Although the weather in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley year round is often sunny and bright, there are a few unpleasantly cold days and nights during the winter season. This is what makes it imperative for homeowners to invest in an efficient heating system. One such system that can fulfill all your home’s heating requirements is a furnace.
However, since there are plenty of options available in the market, it may seem somewhat difficult to choose a heating furnace which best suits your budget and needs. Nevertheless, where there is a problem, there is a solution. So, here is a complete guide on the different types of furnaces, how they operate, and their prices:
Gas Furnaces
Gas furnaces warm your house by extracting heat energy from exhaust gases. They can either run on propane or natural gas. Typically, there are two types of gas furnaces: conventional and condensing. Please note that both these types of furnaces operate differently and there is a huge difference in prices.
Condensing furnaces usually have an efficiency of 90% or more and have the capability of capturing heat even after the exhaust gases have been condensed or ‘cooled’ through the use of two heat exchangers, one to handle corrosive exhaust gases and the other for primary heat exchange. These furnaces are generally more expensive than conventional furnaces, costing around $3,000 – $6,000.00 depending on the model.
Conventional or non-condensing furnaces generally run on natural gas. These furnaces generally exhaust combustion gases rapidly, so the gases exit the chimney without condensing or cooling. As a result, these furnaces are less energy-efficient and cannot collect a lot of heat, as compared to condensing furnaces. These furnaces generally cost around $2,000 – $5,000 depending on the model.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces function similar to how a central HVAC unit functions. These furnaces are highly energy-efficient with a rating of 95% to 100% and convert electricity into direct heat, which is then supplied throughout your home. The average cost of an electric furnace is around $500 to $700, moving closer to $2,000 for the complete installation. These furnaces have an expected lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Therefore, they can last longer when compared to the numerous types of gas furnaces.
Additionally, electric furnaces, unlike gas furnaces do not make any kind of noises and can be installed much faster. They can even be converted to supply cool air and can provide under-floor heating, depending on the type of floor you have. Not to mention, electric furnaces are incredibly easy to maintain and allow homeowners to identify troubles without the need of contacting an HVAC repair professional.
Other Furnaces
Other furnaces types include waste oil, downflow, upflow, horizontal, mobile, single stage, dual stage, modulating, forced air, oil-electric, and thermal storage furnace.
By looking at the information above, it is not difficult to determine that the best type of furnace for your LA home is natural gas furnaces. This is mainly because these furnaces prove to be more efficient, as compared to their electric and oil counterparts.