A furnace is considered to be the best option for heating in regions that receive harsh winter weather. Natural gas is the most popular fuel choice, but electricity is a close second and it’s steadily growing in popularity. Electric furnaces are cleaner, they can be installed in homes that don’t have access to natural gas and they are reliable. In this article, we will take a closer look at electric furnaces to help you make an informed purchase.
What is an Electric Furnace?
As the name suggests, an electric furnace is a heating source that’s powered by electricity. These heaters use an electric heating coil to generate heat which is then distributed throughout the home with a blower fan system.
The individual components and operations are very different from a gas furnace. If you want to imagine how an electric furnace works, think of it as a huge hairdryer pushing warm air into the home. A heat exchanger draws fresh air into the system. This is heated in a chamber and then a blower fan pushes the warm air through the ductwork system and out of the vents.
Understanding Electric Furnace Components
Now that you have a general understanding of how an electric furnace works let’s take a look at the components in more detail. They are:
The Heater Coils
We’ve put this at the top of the list of vital components because the furnace cannot create heat without heater coils. These are made from nickel chromium and when they are fed with heat they generate the heat needed to warm the home.
The Blower Unit
This is a motorized fan blower component housed inside the furnace. It blows the cooler air over the heater coils to warm the air and then it’s distributed throughout the home.
Air Filters
Many people think that air filters are designed to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ). This is partially true, but the primary purpose is to trap particulates that could enter the system where they can damage other components.
The Plenum
This is an air chamber located in the furnace which is used to make the air distribution throughout the home easier.
The Return Air Ducts
These suck fresh cool air into the furnace which assists the blower unit when it’s forcing air into the heat chamber.
The Sequencer
If the electric furnace has multiple heater coils, a sequencer is needed to control them. This component turns the heating elements on and off as required.
The Transformer
This is needed to adjust the input voltage to the standard that the electric furnace needs to operate.
Furnace Operating Costs: Gas vs. Electric
Aside from the purchasing costs the most significant consideration is the ongoing operating costs. There is no getting around the fact that it costs more to run an electric furnace than a gas powered model. The average price for electricity in the U.S. is $0.13.31 per kWh (kilowatt-hour). An average American home tends to use 977 kWh of electricity each month at a cost of $117. In colder areas, this is more expensive and in comparison, gas is pretty cheap.
Gas suppliers sell gas in Ccf units or therms, Ccf is 100 cubic feet in volume, and a therm is 100,000 BTU (British Thermal Units). Suppliers have differing methods of gas pricing. Some companies sell natural gas in dollars per MMBtu (One Millionth British Thermal Unit), others in units of dollar per therm and some in dollars per cubic foot. This can be confusing, but it’s interesting to note that the average natural gas bill for an American home is $72.10. This will be higher in areas that are naturally colder during the winter months, but it’s significantly lower than electricity.
How to Choose an Electric Furnace
If you’re OK with the general concept of paying more for your heating there are some factors that need to be considered when you’re choosing a new electric furnace. They are:
1. Climate
If you experience mild winters, you can run an electric furnace for a long time without causing the electricity bills to spiral out of control. But, if you live in an area with colder sub-zero temperatures, you need a furnace with a more robust heating capacity and energy efficiency.
2. Brand
There are many electric furnace manufacturers and they don’t all have stellar reputations. The old adage “you get what you pay for” is very relevant here and it makes good sense to avoid less expensive equipment that’s likely to underperform and fail quickly. Before you choose a furnace check the customer reviews to see what other users are saying and stick with brands that can be trusted.
3. Energy Efficiency
Because electricity is more expensive than natural gas or oil you need to purchase an energy efficient model. Every furnace on the market has an efficiency rating and the higher that number, the less electricity it will consume to produce the heat your home needs.
4. Size
Before you choose an electric furnace you need to know the dimensions of your home to choose a furnace that’s appropriately sized to meet your heating needs. Why? Well if you choose a furnace that’s too large, you may be wasting too much energy. If the furnace is too small, it will be incapable of delivering the amount of heat you require.
5. Zone Heating
There may be some rooms in your home that are well insulated and others that are not. If this is the case, you may want to consider a zone heating system that allows you to precisely control the heat supplied to each room. This is a great way to make the electric furnace more energy efficient and you can prevent thermostat wars in the family.
In Conclusion
Before you choose an electric furnace for your home, it’s a great idea to involve an HVAC specialist at an early stage. They can help you to properly size your new heater and a professional installation will boost the performance and energy efficiency.