Take a wild guess at which type of furnace is better for heating a home in our area. Is it the powerful and highly-efficient natural gas-powered furnace that so many of your friends and neighbors are talking about? Or is it the increasingly affordable electric furnace that has you eyeing the substantially lower price tag? The real answer to this riddle is that they both could be great solutions depending on your specific situation.
In the world of HVAC, there really isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” type of solution. Sure, some systems work much better in most homes and can provide quality heating when you need it, but both electric and natural gas furnaces are great solutions in concept. Even when it comes to furnace repair in Verona, NJ, technicians will tell you that either system is simple and easy to repair, so which unit should you choose?
Keep reading to learn more.
The Major Differences Between Electric and Gas Furnaces
Before we get into the weeds on which furnace might be better for your situation, and which one you might have better luck with finding a technician to repair it, we need to talk about how they work.
- Gas furnaces work exactly how you think they would. Natural gas is injected into the ignition chamber where the igniter sets the gas on fire and absorbs the heat from that flame. This heat get exchanged from the dirty air where the combustion takes place, to the clean air of your home where it cycles through the rooms of your house and gives you comfort.
- Electric furnaces run via electrical resistance. This is very similar to the process of a space heater, except electric furnaces are much more energy efficient and they’re designed to heat an entire home. Electric coils produce heat which then gets absorbed by the air in your home and circulated throughout the rooms.
Gas Furnaces
Gas furnaces are powerful, effective, and efficient. They’re also the most common type of heating system found in the United States. This means that down the line, when you need furnace repairs, you’ll be able to find plenty of technicians who can provide quick and reliable fixes for your system.
The only two downsides to gas furnaces are that they’re a bit more expensive to install than electric ones (in most cases), and they require access to your municipality’s natural gas line.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces are a great alternative for homes that might not have access to natural gas. They’re powerful enough to heat an entire home, and they also run efficiently when compared to older models. Also, most HVAC technicians know how to repair these kinds of systems as well, since electrical resistance is a fairly simple way of heating a home.
While electric furnaces are extremely affordable and work in any home with electricity, they can sometimes cost more to run than gas furnaces based on current fuel prices.
You’ll Need Professional Support for Each System
Don’t forget that no matter what system you choose to invest in, you’re going to need professional repairs for them when something goes wrong. Our team can help.
Contact MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc. for help with your furnace system.