Which Is Better: Electric or Natural Gas Furnaces?

The winters in Indiana can get bitterly cold, even dipping to subzero temperatures. Choosing the right heater can keep your home toasty warm while minimizing energy costs for years to come. But when it comes to a gas or electric furnace for your house, which one fits your needs the best?

Below is a list of the pros and cons of two of the most common heater types to help you choose what’s right for your home.

Electric vs. Gas Furnaces

Natural gas and electric furnaces have benefits, but how do you know which works best for your home? Electric and natural gas heaters both have their merits. As you evaluate the best type of heater for your Muncie, Indiana, area home, consider the installation and operating costs, efficiency, environmental impact, and your heating needs.

Pros of Natural Gas Furnaces

  • Lower running cost. Despite rising gas prices, natural gas remains the most economical choice for operating a heater.

  • Heats faster. Because the fuel for gas heaters burns hot, it heats quickly and gives off warmer air through the vents than what usually comes from electric heat.

  • Heats your home longer in a power outage. Does a gas furnace use electricity? Yes, all furnaces need electricity for startup and basic functions. However, natural gas furnaces can run longer on a battery backup generator and require less energy to start up since they don’t rely fully on electricity.

 

Cons of Natural Gas Furnaces

  • Costly installation and higher purchase price. A new natural gas furnace costs between $3,800 and $10,000, including installation. While it may be cost-effective to run, the purchase cost is higher, and the installation is more complicated—and, thus, more expensive, especially if your home does not already have a gas line. The cost to replace a gas furnace with an electric one is much lower than moving from electric to gas.

  • Danger of carbon monoxide. Burning gas produces potentially deadly carbon monoxide (CO). A properly maintained furnace will vent the toxic fumes safely outdoors, but if the system is damaged or neglected, CO may build up in the house.

  • Shorter lifespan. Natural gas furnaces have a shorter service life than electric ones. So how long does a gas furnace last? You can expect to get about 10 to 20 years of service before your system needs to be replaced.

  • Less environmentally friendly. Natural gas releases greenhouse gases into the air, while electric furnaces are powered by electricity from utilities that are ever-increasing their investments in renewable wind and solar.

 

Pros of Electric Furnaces

  • Minimal maintenance. Unlike some other furnace options, electric heaters need only minimal maintenance. Simply clean the fan, change the filter, and clear your air ducts to keep your system running well.

  • Longer lifespan. You’ll get more life out of one electric furnace than one gas furnace. How long do electric furnaces last? A typical lifespan for an electric furnace is 20 to 30 years.

  • Lower purchase and installation costs. Of the different types of heaters, electric heat is the most affordable to buy and install. A new electric furnace costs between $2,000 and $7,000, including installation. Electric furnaces also don’t need any additional installations, like that gas line for a gas furnace, since your home already has electricity.

  • No dangerous CO leaks. Electric heat doesn’t produce carbon monoxide and therefore runs no danger of leaking deadly gas into your home.

  • Better for the environment. While natural gas furnaces will burn natural gas (releasing carbon and methane emissions), a Muncie electric furnace serviced by American Electric Power (AEP) is instantly powered by energy that is 23% carbon-free, with the utility planning to grow its renewable portfolio to 53% by 2032, when your new electric furnace will still be running.

 

Cons of Electric Furnaces

  • Slower to heat. Heating with electricity is more gradual, and the air from the vents might not feel as warm as gas-fired heat. Of course, electric heaters can reach whatever temperature you dial up on your thermostat and reliably keep your home just as warm and toasty.

  • Slightly more costly to run. Electric furnaces can run your energy bill a little higher during the winter months, but this is greatly offset by lower upfront purchase, installation, and annual maintenance costs.

 

Heat Pumps: The Most Efficient Alternative

There’s another option to choose from: heat pumps run off electricity and can be more than four times more efficient than a traditional furnace. You can get a heat pump installed while keeping your current furnace to handle the coldest parts of the Muncie winter. The Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development offers a rebate for geothermal heat pumps. If you get an air source heat pump, make sure you grab the 30% cost tax credit offered by the federal government.

Get the New Heater You Want, Installed by One Hour Experts in Muncie, IN

For assistance installing or maintaining your furnace, our experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning of Muncie are ready to help. Give us a call at (765) 204-1218 or request service online to get started.