Choosing a new heating system isn’t a situation you often face as a homeowner, given how long the equipment usually lasts. Whether you’re building a new home or choosing a replacement for your current system, you may need to decide between gas and electric heating. Your decision becomes easier when you know the pros and cons of each system. We’ll cover them here.
Gas Heaters
Gas heaters work by burning natural gas. Burners ignite the fuel in a controlled flame, distributing the warmth throughout your residence for everyone’s comfort and safety. The heat is transferred to a metal heat exchanger, where fans bring in cool air to heat and blow back out through the vents.
Gas heating systems offer many benefits. They usually warm homes effectively, quickly, and consistently. In some areas, gas is cheaper than electricity, helping with your utility bills. Gas heating systems usually keep working even during power outages, and they have of a less carbon footprint than a number of other heating options, though not all. Modern gas heaters have safety features that minimize risks, and installation is typically straightforward.
There are some potential downsides. Your home does need a connection to natural gas supplies, and those connections might limit where you can put a gas heater inside your house. Installation costs might be higher than those of other heating systems, and the combustion process might emit pollutants that impact your home’s indoor air quality. Natural gas prices also fluctuate, so your utility bills might, too.
Electric Heaters
Electric heaters have coils made of unique metals that flow electricity through them and heat them. This warmth transfers to the surrounding air before blowers or fans circulate the warmed air throughout your home. You can control the temperature with a thermostat that activates the heating system when it’s cold but turns it off once the desired temperature is reached and maintained.
Most electric heaters are plug-and-play installations whose safety stems from their lack of hazardous fumes or burning fuel. Energy efficiency is high since nearly all the electricity is converted to heat.
They could be better, however. Extensive use can result in higher utility bills. Electric heating systems are not always great for warming bigger spaces, and they take time to do their work. They also won’t function during a power outage.
Consult Industry Professionals About Your Options
Gas and electric heating systems have their own sets of pros and cons. If you want help choosing which system to install in your home, consult HVAC technicians to learn your options.
Turn to We Care Heating & Air Conditioning for furnace repairs if you live in central Georgia or the Florida panhandle.
