If you’re looking into installing a new furnace for your Grand Junction, CO, home, there are many options. Most of your potential system choices will fall into two categories. Natural gas-powered furnaces are the most common choice. Electric furnaces may also be desirable in certain circumstances. Here’s a guide to both furnace types and how you can choose between them.

All About Gas Furnaces

Approximately 75% of homes in Colorado rely on gas furnaces for heat. They work by burning natural gas, which heats air to circulate around your home. Gas furnaces date back to the early 1900s, but central forced-air versions became popular in the 1930s. Since then, they’ve become the dominant heating system in most American homes.

Why Are Gas Furnaces Popular?

Gas furnaces are prevalent in Grand Junction for several reasons. One is that they help keep heating costs low. The average gas furnace is 81% efficient. However, natural gas is the cheapest home heating fuel available. So, even with waste rates around 19%, running a gas furnace doesn’t cost much as long as these prices remain constant.

Gas furnaces also last for years, with an average model providing up to 20 years of reliable service. That, combined with manageable upfront costs, gives gas furnaces a low total cost of ownership. Additionally, they’re based on mature technology, making them safe and well-supported by HVAC companies. Getting parts for a gas furnace is easy, helping minimize downtime after any malfunction.

Electric Furnaces

Electric furnaces are almost identical to gas models, except they rely on electric resistance heating elements. They date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s when Thomas Edison invented the first electric heater. However, it wasn’t until Albert Marsh created the chrome alloy that electric heaters became popular. That alloy led to heating elements that could withstand years of continual use.

Why Are Electric Furnaces Popular?

For starters, it’s worth pointing out that very few homes in Grand Junction rely on electric furnaces. The reason is simple: electricity is expensive. Electric furnaces are popular elsewhere in the US, particularly in warmer-climate Southern states. In those places, homes don’t need heat often enough to make operating an electric furnace prohibitive. Electric furnaces can also be paired with heat pumps to create a hybrid heating and cooling system.

Electric furnaces have several advantages over gas-powered models. One is that they’re 100% efficient. They convert all the electricity they consume into usable heat. Electric furnaces last up to 30 years and pose no risk of leaking toxic combustion gases. They’re also cheap to purchase, at approximately 50% of the cost of a gas furnace.

The average electric furnace will also have lower maintenance requirements than a comparable gas model. Electric furnaces operate at lower temperatures, minimizing wear, and have fewer moving parts. This helps them avoid malfunctions, extending the time between needed furnace repairs.

Choosing Between Gas and Electric Furnaces

Choosing between a gas and electric furnace always comes down to a few main factors. They include the following.

Access to Natural Gas Supply

If your home doesn’t have a natural gas supply connection, you cannot have a natural gas furnace. So, you must first consider if your home is eligible for such a connection. Depending on where you live, it may be challenging to get a natural gas company to serve your property. Even if you can install gas lines, it could add thousands of dollars to your installation costs. That cost may change your system payback time relative to an electric furnace. If you can’t get natural gas at your house, you could purchase a gas furnace that runs on propane.

Your Installation Budget

Even if your home already has natural gas service, a gas furnace may not be the right choice for you. For example, if you’re dealing with budget constraints for your installation, you may want an electric furnace. While its operating costs will far exceed a gas model, you get to pay those costs over the system’s life. Before you make that decision, though, ask us about our financing options. If you qualify for financing, you can spread the additional cost of a gas furnace over several years. If you don’t have gas lines that run to the correct locations, you will need to pay for installation of lines and ventilation as well.

Your Home’s Electrical Service

An electric furnace requires a dedicated power circuit between 60 and 80 amps. You may need your home’s electrical service and panel upgraded to support an electric furnace. Additionally, you will need to have the correct dedicated circuit with 220 amps in the location of your new furnace.

Environmental Concerns

Finally, if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of a gas furnace, you might want an electric model. Natural gas furnaces represent roughly 40% of the average home’s carbon footprint. As they run, they emit carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, and other waste gases. They also emit tiny amounts of particulate matter, which affects air quality. The gaseous byproducts also contribute to climate change. Electric models can run partially on solar power if you have panels on your roof, too.

A Word on Alternatives

You should know that the aforementioned furnace types aren’t your only option. If a lack of natural gas service prevents you from installing a gas furnace, you’re not limited to an electric model. Instead, you could choose a heat pump to meet your home’s heating needs. Like electric furnaces, heat pumps only use electricity to run. However, they’re up to four times as efficient as electric furnaces. That’s because they use heat energy from the outdoor air instead of turning electricity into heat. The only electricity they consume is used to collect and move that heat. Plus, heat pumps also function as cooling systems for your home.

Unfortunately, heat pumps may cost up to four times what you’d pay for an electric furnace. So, they may not be a good choice if you’re on a budget. However, heat pumps qualify for a raft of tax credits and subsidies that may help you afford one. Our experts can help you navigate those programs to see if a heat pump will fit into your budget.

Grand Junction Heating Experts

Home Comfort Services is a locally owned and operated cooling and heating company serving the residents of Grand Junction. Nobody knows more about the best heating options for our climate than our HVAC technicians. We provide affordable HVAC installation, repair, maintenance, plumbing, indoor air quality, and ductwork services. We also specialize in geothermal HVAC systems, should you want the ultimate efficient heating and cooling. Plus, all our work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re having a problem, we’ll do whatever it takes to make things right. But don’t take our word for it; check out our long list of positive testimonials instead. And when you need a new heating system for your Grand Junction home, call us.

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