When you’re thinking about a new heating system, you may be considering the similarities and differences between electric heaters and gas heaters. Is one better than the other? The short answer is that it depends. Each homeowner has their own unique needs and expectations. You also want to consider factors like how cold it gets where you live and the availability of a gas line in your home.
If you are interested in an electric furnace in Montpelier, VT, our team can help. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about electric heaters compared to gas heaters. The best way to make an educated decision is to understand the pros and cons of each option.
Differences between Gas Heaters and Electric Heaters
Aside from the difference in energy sources, gas and electric heaters have some other key differences. The main one is cost. An electric heater usually costs less to install upfront, but then costs more to operate on a monthly basis. A gas heater is the opposite, costing more upfront for the installation but saving you up to 50% on your energy use over the life of your heater.
An electric heater has a longer lifespan. You can expect an electric heater to last for 20 to 30 years, while a gas heater may only last for 15 to 20 years. Keep in mind that both of these estimates are with regularly scheduled maintenance and taking good care of your heater, no matter what type of system you have. Without regular maintenance, there’s a good chance that your heater won’t last as long.
Benefits of Electric Heaters
Electric heaters have a wide variety of options. You can choose between a heat pump, central storage heaters, or even smaller heaters that go in each room of your home, like a ductless mini split. This allows for a highly customized design that fits your specific needs.
With an electric heater, you don’t have to worry about carbon monoxide at all. Of course, electricity poses its own concerns, but generally the risks are lower than with a gas heater that uses combustion. Since electricity is cleaner than gas, you can also expect to invest less time and money in maintenance. While you still need to schedule annual maintenance, the actual upkeep needs will be lower.
Downsides of Electric Heaters
Electric heaters can take longer to warm up your home than a gas heater would. This can be a problem in significantly colder climates where your heater would have to work harder to warm up your home. If you would usually lower the temperature when you’re away from home, you may avoid lowering it as much. Otherwise, your home may take longer to heat back up when you need to. This is one of the reasons that electric heaters cost more to run on a monthly basis compared to gas heaters.
And when you’re talking about higher energy bills, that also correlates to lower efficiency. Electric heaters can use a lot of energy trying to heat up your home. If you do have an electric heater, you want to maximize the unit by ensuring that your home is sealed up tightly so that warm air cannot escape. This will help you improve efficiency.
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC serves Northwest Vermont and Northeast New York. Schedule an appointment for plumbing service with us today.
