If your home’s furnace is struggling to keep the space warm this winter and you’re considering upgrading to a new model, one of the first and most important choices you’ll have is whether to go with a gas or electric furnace. Robust options exist for both these fuel sources today, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons depending on your needs.

At Lee’s Heating and Air, we’re happy to provide both gas and electric options for our furnace installation services to Utah clients. Let’s look at some of the key variables homeowners should be thinking about when they buy a new furnace, plus how gas and electrical models tend to compare in these areas.

Costs

When it comes to costs, it’s important that you’re not only considering the up-front price of the furnace itself. Rather, there are actually multiple costs worth evaluating:

  • Initial purchase cost: The initial cost of a gas furnace is generally higher than that of an electric model due to the additional components and fuel requirements.
  • Utility costs: On the other hand, you’ll typically pay less for natural gas than electricity over time — even if your initial purchase price was higher.
  • Installation fees: Installation fees can vary widely depending on the complexity of the job and the model you choose, so researching these costs in advance is important.
  • Maintenance: Gas furnaces can generally be more expensive to maintain than electric models due to their complexity and additional components.

DIY Installation?

One area where these two furnace types are identical is when discussing DIY installation. Simply put, unless you have specific training in furnace installation, you should never attempt to install a furnace yourself. It’s important to allow a professional technician to complete the job correctly and safely.

For gas furnaces, major risks to untrained individuals include the potential for gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. For electrical furnaces, on the other hand, the major risk is working with electricity and potentially creating a fire hazard.

Efficiency

When it comes to efficiency, gas furnaces are typically more efficient than electric models — they often have AFUE ratings as high as 98%. On the other hand, electric furnaces can still be fairly efficient with some models having energy-efficiency ratings near 95%.

Some people really care about getting every last percentage point here, while others are more concerned with finding something that meets their budget. Either way, efficiency should still be a consideration when researching your furnace options.

Speed of Heat-Up

One area where gas furnaces have typically held the advantage in the past, but where electrical furnaces are quickly catching up, is the speed with which they heat up. In terms of sheer output, gas furnaces will generally get your home warm faster than electrical models — simply because of their power and increased efficiency.

That said, some electrical models are now designed to heat up quickly and offer features that allow them to be tuned for specific temperatures without wasting energy. If you’re looking for a fast-acting heating solution, you may want to consider researching models with similar features and seeing which best meets your needs.

Typical Lifespan

Both these types will last for multiple decades if they’re properly cared for, but this is one area where electric models have traditionally outperformed their gas counterparts. In other words, electric furnaces tend to last about 10-15 years longer on average than gas furnaces — enabling them to provide your home with a potential extra decade of heat if they’re properly maintained.

No matter which type of furnace you choose, however, you’ll need regular maintenance and upkeep to come close to maximum lifespan. An electric furnace that isn’t well-maintained is almost certain to last for a shorter period of time than a gas model that is, for instance.

Safety

While neither of these models contains major safety risks in their basic operations, electric models are the slightly safer of the two because they don’t involve dealing with combustible gases. In addition, electric models can be safer in terms of fire risk — and their lack of moving parts also helps reduce the potential for them to fail from wear-and-tear or mechanical issues.

Ultimately, if safety is your key concern, then an electric furnace may be your best option.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

While some naturally assume that electric models will be more eco-friendly than gas models, that isn’t necessarily always the case. In some locations, the electricity used to power electric furnaces may be generated from non-renewable sources — increasing their environmental impact.

On the other hand, a gas furnace can also have an environmental cost if it relies on non-renewable fuels or is not maintained properly. Your best bet for finding an eco-friendly furnace is to research the type of fuel sources available in your region and see which option provides the most sustainable heating solution.

Noise

Finally, while neither model is loud by any means, electric models tend to operate in near silence while gas furnaces tend to generate a low hum when they’re running. If you’re looking for something that will operate with minimal noise, an electric model may be your best bet.

In the end, both gas and electric furnaces can be great options depending on your needs — but it’s important to do research and look at all the variables before making your choice. For help with this, or to learn about any of our furnace services or other HVAC solutions, speak to our experts at Lee’s Heating and Air today.