Some Basic Information to Help You Make the Right Choice for Your Home
We all know how long and brutal winters in northern Illinois can be, and a fully functioning furnace is absolutely essential to keep your family warm and secure while Mother Nature howls and does her worst outside.
If you need a new furnace and you live in an urban or suburban area of northern Illinois, your choice will most likely be between installing a new electric furnace or a gas furnace fueled by natural gas.
To help you decide which is the better choice for you, we wanted to share the following information, both the pros and cons, comparing in various ways these two types of furnaces.
The Major Differences Between Electric and Gas Furnaces
Whether you choose a gas or an electric furnace, it’s important to remember that both are forced air systems. That means they heat air directly and then distribute the heated air through your home’s ductwork system. And both these types of furnaces are popular with residents of the Palatine – Carpentersville area.
That said, here are some of the differences between these two heating systems.
Costs
Generally, it costs more to install a gas furnace than an electric unit, especially if you do not already have a gas line running to your house. On the other hand, however, natural gas is generally cheaper than electricity, and a gas furnace uses less energy to heat the same amount of space as an electric furnace.
That means your winter utility bills should be significantly lower with a gas furnace. In fact, those using a gas furnace to heat their home should be able to recoup their investment over time because of their lower energy costs.
In comparing the costs of operating a gas or electric furnace, the costs of using an electric furnace can be reduced significantly by pairing it with a heat pump. The heat pump will take heat from the outside air (even in winter), releasing the heat into your home so that the electric furnace alone does not have to heat your home.
Lifespan of the Furnace
An electric furnace will probably last 20 or more years, while the lifespan of a gas furnace is usually around 15 to 20 years.
Maintenance
Those lifespan figures are based on the assumption that you have your furnace regularly maintained by a qualified HVAC company. Propper maintenance is essential whatever your choice, a gas or electric furnace.
Safety
As a gas furnace burns fuel, it emits carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can be harmful and even deadly. This gas must be properly and safely vented from your home.
In contrast, an electric furnace is environmentally friendly and produces no dangerous gases. And the absence of dangerous emissions is one of the major reasons the government is encouraging the use of electric furnaces.
It’s essential to remember that a gas furnace is a safe option as long as it is properly maintained, reducing the risk of a carbon monoxide leak.
If you use a gas furnace, however, we strongly recommend that you have carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout your home for the safety of your family.
New Heating and Cooling Systems in Palatine and Surrounding Areas
We hope you find this comparison of gas and electric furnaces helpful, but if you’re still unsure of which is the better option for you, the heating professionals at Five Star Heating & Air will be glad to assist you in making the choice that’s best for you.
For over 40 years, we’ve provided energy-efficient heating and cooling services in the greater Palatine area, and we’re proud distributors of TRANE and Mitsubishi systems, both gas and electric furnaces.
Also, we never want dollars to stand in the way of your comfort, and through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. we offer finance options to meet any family budget.
Whatever your furnace choice, gas or electric, we can handle the job for you, installing a system that will keep you warm for many winters to come. So, contact us today at Five Star Heating & Air, and let’s get to work!
