Pros & Cons of Installing an Electric Furnace

We tend to hear a lot about “x furnace is objectively much better than y furnace” when we encounter homeowners seeking a new or replacement furnace. But is the information you’re getting factual, or the product of a bias?

The experts at Jack Lehr Heating, Cooling & Electric are here to explain that there is no objective “best furnace.” It all comes down to the unique needs of your home and what you personally expect and demand from your heating system.

To help you identify which furnace best suits your needs, we’d like to help you learn the ups and downs of each heating system, starting with an electric furnace.

Considering an electric furnace for your Greater Lehigh Valley home? Contact our experts today and put our unparalleled service and skill to the task.

What Is an Electric Furnace?

An electric furnace, obviously enough, uses electricity as its fuel source to generate the heating power you desire to keep your home comfortable through the chills of fall and winter. It generally doesn’t use gas, oil, or any other fuel source — though some hybrids do both — relying entirely on your electricity.

Electric heating includes systems such as space heaters, central heating, and portable heating.

Benefits of Electric Heating

Like any other heating system, an electric furnace comes with unique benefits, including:

• Availability. Electricity is practically necessary to sustain life, and as such is readily available anywhere. This isn’t always the case with other heating sources like gas.
• Reduced initial cost. Due to the widespread use and availability of electric heating, they tend to cost much less to purchase and install, making it easier to get heat when you need it. Electric heat pumps generally have much lower operating costs for heating with electricity.
• Safe. Using electricity as a fuel source eliminates the risk of harmful or noxious byproducts, such as carbon monoxide, as the furnace doesn’t use any products that can result in their production.
• Efficient. Strictly from a heat-loss perspective, electric heating is one of the most efficient sources on the market. An electric heater doesn’t require flues, chimneys, or other structures designed to allow smoke and gasses to escape, since they don’t produce any of these.

Disadvantages of Electric Furnaces

Also like any other system, there are some caveats that should be considered. An electric furnace:

• Can be expensive to run. This is the primary concern when dealing with electric heating. They are efficient, yes. But that doesn’t mean they’re cheap to run. Compared to gas or oil, electricity is rather pricey, and using electric heat can be a financial strain for some homeowners.
• Can require consistent professional repair. This isn’t always a concern, but while electric furnaces are generally sturdy, the problems they encounter can be confusing to an average homeowner. This can sometimes lead to frustration, but we can honestly say the cases are rare.

Electric Furnace Installation

If you’re still undecided on which type of furnace to buy, just remember: Electric furnaces are safer and more cost-effective upfront and require an easily accessible power source, but can be costly to run despite being energy-efficient.

Gas furnaces are more expensive upfront, and gas may not be accessible in your home, but gas furnaces tend to cost less to run.

So, is an electric heater what you’re looking for in your Allentown home? Possibly! It’s all about finding the solution that suits your needs.

Having trouble deciding? No problem! Contact your local Allentown furnace installation and repair professionals at Jack Lehr for the advice and answers you need.

We’re proud to serve our community and can offer the best skill and service around.