How Do Gas Furnaces Differ From Electric Furnaces?
Before you have a new furnace installation in Eatonton, GA, from Oconee Climate Control, you must decide how you want your new heating system to be powered. Although there are alternatives for keeping your home warm, it usually comes down to two basic choices – electric or gas furnaces. While gas furnaces are certainly more common, both types of furnaces have benefits you should be aware of as you choose. We break down the basic differences between electric and gas furnaces.
Cost of Operation
Regarding the overall cost of operation, a gas furnace from Oconee Climate Control wins every time. Primarily, this is due to the lower price of natural gas versus electricity. Since the fuel is cheap, natural gas furnaces are less expensive to operate, even though gas furnaces can’t come close to the efficiency of an electric furnace.
Efficiency
To understand furnace efficiency, it’s essential to remember high school physics, where you learned the Law of Conservation of Mass, which says matter can neither be created nor destroyed. Thus, when fuel is burned in your furnace, it’s not lost, just changed in form. In the case of a gas furnace, though, some potential energy is lost in light energy, while very little potential energy is lost in an electric furnace.
Therefore, many electric furnaces from Oconee Climate Control can claim nearly 100% efficiency, which is hard for a gas furnace to match. However, an electric furnace’s heating capacity is often much lower than a gas furnace, meaning that an electric furnace has to use more energy to produce the same amount of heat, even when accounting for the wasted energy.
Safety
One key benefit of an electric furnace is that electricity can’t explode. Although rare, explosions can occur if a problem occurs with a natural gas furnace. At the same time, the significant amounts of electricity required by an electric furnace can cause potential hazards, as well. Of course, if your furnace is properly installed by Oconee Climate Control, you have nothing to fear, either way.
Increase Your Home’s Comfort
Ultimately, any type of furnace you choose will help increase your home’s comfort. That’s why we at Oconee Climate Control work hard to provide professional furnace installations so you can enjoy significant comfort and efficiency beyond what’s expected. We’ve been Eatonton’s trusted source for HVAC repair, maintenance, and installation for over 20 years. We can assist you with all your heating, cooling, and indoor air quality needs. For more information on what sets us apart or how to choose the right furnace for your home, give us a call at Oconee Climate Control today.
