Stelpro and York are two brands that do make higher-quality electric furnaces. But is the world of the most reliable electric furnace brands, there are only 2 big ones that are well worth mentioning. These are Winchester and King. King is the No. 1 brand when it comes to electric furnaces.
How much does an electric furnace cost to install?
In addition, electric furnaces often are paired with heat pumps, air handlers or added as the heating component to an air conditioner. Costs of Electric Furnaces New electric furnaces cost between $1,500 and $8,000 to be installed, according to ImproveNet.com. The median price for an installed furnace is $3,881.
What is an electric furnace and how does it work?
They rely on electric-resistance heating elements (similar to those of toasters and common small infrared portable heaters) to provide heat, which is then blown by a fan and - in the case of central systems - distributed through the home’s ductwork. What is now called electric furnaces is a different equipment.
Are electric furnaces more expensive to run than gas furnaces?
On balance, electric furnaces are about 300 percent more expensive to use than gas-burning units. Based on the current average cost of electricity in the U.S. of $0.13 per kilowatt hour, a typical electric furnace costs $32 per million BTUs to operate, compared to a cost of just $10 to $12 per million BTUs for a typical gas furnace.
How many homes use an electric furnace as a heat source?
An estimated 10 to 15 percent of U.S. homes use an electric furnace as their primary heat source. Learn the details of electric furnaces and how they work, so you can make a fully informed decision about how to heat your home. What Are Electric Furnaces and How Do They Work? Electric Furnace vs. Other Heating Options
Are electric furnaces expensive to run?
While the up-front costs might be tempting, electric furnaces cost more to operate monthly. Electricity is more expensive per unit than natural gas, making the lifetime cost higher than gas heating. Electric heating takes more time. The heat from your furnace won't reach the high temperatures of a gas furnace.
Is an electric furnace a good idea?
Yes, electric furnaces are energy efficient, but whether they are energy efficient for you depends on a number of factors. As a general rule, gas furnaces are more efficient in cold northern climates, and electric furnaces can be efficient over the long term in warmer southern climates where they are not used as much.
Can you get an all electric furnace?
Installing an electric furnace heater is usually a popular choice for homeowners who do not have access to a natural gas main line for a gas furnace installation.
How much does an electric furnace cost?
Electric furnaces cost anywhere from $800 to $4,500, depending on how many BTUs they put out. This price range doesn't include labor, installation materials, or ductwork. You'll need more BTUs for larger homes or homes in colder climates. A BTU, or British thermal unit, measures the furnace's heat output.
Is it cheaper to run a gas or electric furnace?
A gas system is less expensive to operate, and that's because natural gas is cheaper than electricity. During the past few years, electricity has increased in cost, while natural gas charges have actually decreased, which make the gas units more appealing to homeowners. If you want fast results, gas is your choice.
Do electric furnaces need a chimney?
Electric furnace pros: Because an electric furnace does not need to be connected to a gas supply and does not need a venting system for fuel-burning byproducts, it is generally less complicated and a bit less expensive to install.
Can I replace my gas furnace with an electric furnace?
Yes, switching from gas heat to electric heat is totally doable. The existing hot air system that works on gas would simply be replaced by a heat pump or an electric furnace (the new appliance will still be using the existing ductwork).
How much does it cost to switch from gas to electric heat?
Converting a gas furnace to an electric furnace costs $2,900 to $9,500 on average. Costs depend on the home layout, furnace location, and any electrical and ductwork modifications required.
Is an electric furnace more expensive than gas?
In general, electric furnaces are less expensive than gas furnaces. They are also much less expensive to install. In some instances, installing a gas furnace could be twice as much as the cost of installing an electric furnace.
How many years does an electric furnace last?
between 20 and 30 yearsA furnace's longevity depends on the type of furnace you own. A gas furnace on average lasts between 15 and 20 years. An electric furnace lasts between 20 and 30 years.
Can an electric furnace heat a house?
Yes, An Electric Furnace Can Keep Your House Warm What you need to keep in mind when considering an electric furnace is that it is more costly to heat a home with an electric furnace than with a natural gas one.
What size electric furnace do I need for a 2000 square foot home?
For a space of 800 to 900 square feet, such as a small home or two-bedroom townhouse, the recommendation is between 30,000 and 45,000 BTUs. An average 2,000-square foot home will need between 80,000 and 115,000 BTUs to heat efficiently.
What can go wrong with an electric furnace?
Loose or corroding wiring and broken relays are among the more common troubles that can cause problems for an electric furnace. The thermostat could lose its connection to the furnace, which can either cause the furnace not to turn on or not to turn off.
Is it cheaper to run electric furnace or space heater?
A furnace is the cheaper option if you want to heat multiple rooms. If you want to heat only one room, a space heater will be the cheaper option. Any furnace is more economical when heating a whole home, compared to a small space heater.
Is electric heat cheaper than gas 2022?
Natural gas on average is cheaper On average natural gas heat costs $9.2 per million BTU (MMBTU) compared to electric heat at $34.9 per MMBTU. That means natural gas heat only about a third of the price of electric heat over a year for a home.
What is the life expectancy of an electric furnace?
20-30 yearsThe Typical Furnace Lifespan The predicted lifespan for an electric furnace is 20-30 years, while a gas furnace will last on average 10-15 years. Remember, your furnace doesn't run on one component alone. The average furnace — whether running on gas or electricity — works using a collection of crucial parts.
How does an electric furnace work?
Before you can understand exactly how an electric furnace works, you must familiarize yourself with the basic parts used in this appliance. An electric furnace contains the following parts: 1 Plenum: A small area that allows air to circulate more freely. 2 Heating relays: These control electricity flow to the heating elements. 3 Heating elements: Used for converting electricity into heat. 4 Blower and Blower motor: Responsible for pushing the heated air out of the furnace. (This is why they are called forced air electric furnaces.) 5 Filter: Prevents the furnace from releasing harmful materials into the surrounding air. 6 Power relay: Controls power flow through the furnace. 7 Transformer: These control voltage and transform it to the type required for the furnace. 8 Return air ducts: Suck in air for the furnace to heat. 9 Sequencers: Switches heating elements on and off in sequential pattern to avoid overloading. 10 Elements: Electric resistance coils that heat the air circulated by the blower. In electric furnaces, the elements are activated in stages to prevent overheating. 11 Thermostat: Also known as a limit controller, the thermostat is built into the electric furnace system to regulate the temperature. It can shut the system down to prevent overheating. 12 Filters: Filters keep dust, hair, and particulate matter from being sucked into the blower fan and recirculated throughout your home. Filters help keep your home’s air free of contaminants. Replacing the filters every few months also keeps your electric furnace running smoothly.
How many BTUs can a furnace produce?
The size of the heating element in your furnace determines its BTU output. A furnace with a 5kW (kilowatt) element can generate a maximum of 17,000 BTUs.
What prevents the furnace from releasing harmful materials into the surrounding air?
Filter: Prevents the furnace from releasing harmful materials into the surrounding air.
How much does a forced air furnace cost?
The median price for an installed furnace is $3,881. The unit cost of a forced air electric furnace, which is best for warmer climates, ranges from $395 to $700. Installation cost factors include the furnace’s brand, size, and efficiency. Other cost considerations include programmable thermostats and zone heating.
How much does it cost to install an electric furnace?
New electric furnaces cost between $1,500 and $8,000 to be installed, according to ImproveNet.com. The median price for an installed furnace is $3,881. The unit cost of a forced air electric furnace, which is best for warmer climates, ranges from $395 to $700. Installation cost factors include the furnace’s brand, size, and efficiency. Other cost considerations include programmable thermostats and zone heating. Some home conditions, such as your electrical system and ductwork, can make installation easier or more difficult.
Why are electric furnaces so expensive?
Department of Energy (DOE) points out that electric furnaces are more expensive to operate even when compared to other electric resistance systems—such as baseboard heaters, wall heaters and electric thermal storage— because of the amount of heat lost as the air moves through your home’s ducts.
How to calculate electric furnace cost?
To roughly determine the cost of operating an electric furnace, determine the cost for a kilowatt per hour from your utility bill. Then, use the kilowatts per hour it takes to heat your home (found by looking at your current utility bill) and multiply it by the cost per kilowatt to determine the heating cost per hour. You also can simplify this process by using an online energy use calculator.
Why is the KFS Eco2S in high demand?
Especially the KFS ECO2S model is in high demand (according to electric furnace installers) because those 15% of electricity savings can generate $1,000s saving in 20+ years.
How long does an electric furnace last?
Nonetheless, electric furnaces are: Much safer (no gas). Much more convenient (install it and forget it). Last as much as 30 years (vs. maximum of 20 years for gas furnaces). For an electric furnace to last up to 30 years, you really need a reliable one.
How does electricity work in a forced air furnace?
Electricity heats the heat exchanger (system of metal rods in the unit). Air is pulled from the indoor air by a modular blower, pushed over the heat exchanger (where it heats up), and is distributed back into your home. Basically, here is what an electric forced air furnace is in most simple terms:
How much does it cost to install an electric furnace?
You don’t have to worry about gas or carbon monoxide leakage (as is the case with gas furnaces). The initial cost of a new electric furnace ($800 to $2,700) is way lower as well. However, electricity is the most expensive heating power source.
Why is it important to look for reliable electric furnace brands?
That’s why it makes sense to look for reliable electric furnace brands; they produce durable high-efficiency units. To illustrate everything homeowners need to know about electric furnaces, we outlined:
Why is it important to have a long track record?
Having a long track-record is important for a brand; they can charge higher prices for electric furnaces. However, the new brands don’t have such a luxury. That’s why they have to charge lower prices to, primarily, sell their units, and secondarily, to build a lasting brand.
What is the best brand of electric furnace?
King is the No. 1 brand when it comes to electric furnaces. It’s no surprise that being so reliable, it also produces the most expensive units.
What Size Electric Furnace Do You Need?
To make sure you are choosing the correct electric furnace sizing for your home you will need to determine the right size ton heater and BTUs heating capability based on the square footage of your home along with the climate where you live.
How much does it cost to install an electric furnace?
However the costs will vary between each brand, you may be more interested in installing a high tier brand name electric furnace such as American Standard forced air electric furnace which would cost around $1,143 for the furnace alone and installation costs would be around $2,400. A more affordable option would be to purchase a Coleman electric furnace which prices out at around $482 for the furnace and around $1,825 to install.
How much does an electric furnace cost?
An electric furnace is a cheaper to install than a gas furnace. Electric furnace prices can range from $850 to $1,500. A new electric furnace cost to install can range from $1,200 to $5,975. Total costs vary by local labor rates, brand choice, and a few other factors. However, electric furnaces have higher operational costs than gas furnaces.
How many square feet does a 2.5 ton furnace cover?
For example, if you live in the north in Zone 5 and your home is between 1400 to 1600 square feet, a 2.5 ton electric furnace can do the job. In comparison, a home in the southern Zone 1 region with square footage of 1500 to 1800 square feet may needs the power of a 3-ton unit. Electric Furnace & AC Size Needed.
How to keep your home safe from electric?
Keep yourself extra safe by wearing appropriate safety gear such as rubber gloves, rubber soled shoes, and protective eye wear such as safety goggles.
What is the role of a belt in a furnace?
Belts and pulleys play a significant role in furnace operation as they work with the motor which produces the heat for your home. Visually check the belts for any issues such as worn areas, cracks, breaks, or tears. Replace if necessary or call a technician to do the job.
Do you pay for labor to replace an electric furnace?
Since electric furnaces are genuinely easier to install than other furnace types, you may pay less in installation and labor altogether. If you are replacing an old electric furnace, the labor costs will most likely be higher than if you are simply repairing your forced air heating unit.
How does an electric resistance furnace work?
As with a gas forced-air furnace, it has a blower that draws air into the cabinet through a cold-air return and then pushes the air through the heat exchanger. There , electric heating elements heat the air, and the blower pushes the warmed air back into rooms through a system of duct work.
Why is electric heating better than gas?
One advantage of electric heating over gas and other combustion fuels is that electric heating doesn’t give off carbon monoxide. This is good for the environment and makes the unit easier to install because it doesn’t require a flue to carry combustion gases outside .
What is an electric furnace?
An electric furnace is similar to a conventional gas forced-air furnace except that it produces heat with electric heating elements instead of gas burners. Circuit breakers that control the heating elements may be either inside or outside the cabinet. An electric-resistance furnace works like a big hair dryer.
Why is my furnace not working?
Because electric furnaces have a high-voltage hazard inside the cabinet, leave repairs to a qualified HVAC service technician.
Is an electric furnace environmentally friendly?
An electric furnace is an environmentally friendly option, if you can afford the energy costs. Here is how an electric furnace works.
Do heat pumps use electricity?
For this reason, heat pumps make more sense if you want to use electricity as a fuel. (For more, see the Heat Pumps Buying Guide .) Monthly maintenance involves replacing (or cleaning) the air filter, and, if the unit includes a humidifier, cleaning that component.
Who is Don Vandervort?
Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years, as Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. He appeared for 3 seasons on HGTV’s “The Fix,” and served as MSN’s home expert for several years. Don founded HomeTips in 1996. Read more about Don Vandervort
How much more heat does an electric furnace produce?
In favorable conditions, new electric furnaces are able to deliver 2-3 times more heat than the electricity they use; in other words: their running costs are low, compared to other electric heating equipment.
How much does a central furnace cost?
The prices of new central electric furnaces are often in the $2.000-$4.000 range; but they vary significantly with the manufacturer, the size, the features and the AFUE (energy efficiency); installed prices can be significantly higher; it depends on details associated to the ducts.
What is an electric furnace?
The new electric furnaces are air-source heat pumps, an increasingly common type of electric equipment using the air-conditioning and refrigerator technology.
Can electric furnaces run in cold weather?
However, there are now "cold-climate" electric furnaces (a recent technological innovation with tested results) able to run without resorting to electric-resistance elements - unless temperatures get very, very low: below the -13ºF/-25ºC.
Is an electric furnace expensive?
Traditional electric furnace have high running costs. Traditional electrical heating is expensive, unless it is used very sparsely: 1) to supplement other heating systems or 2) in moderate climates with small heating needs or 3) in super-insulated homes where the heating needs have been reduced to very low levels.
Is ductless furnace a mini split?
The installed prices of ductless electric furnaces (mini-split systems) are significantly lower, even for systems with a higher number of air handlers. Installation costs for these systems are very low.
Can electric furnaces be used in freezing temperatures?
And this is a very important point to keep in mind: if your climate has long periods of freezing temperature s, and if your home has high heating requirements, these electric furnaces aren't effective.
What Are Electric Furnaces and How Do They Work?
Electric furnaces are heating appliances consisting of an enclosed metal box containing an electric heating element and a blower fan. Like their oil and gas burning counterparts, electric furnaces are thermostatically controlled forced air units, switching on automatically when a thermostat detects the temperature of the building has dropped below the set point. With the heating element on, the internal blower fan also switches on automatically, blowing air over the heating element, and then distributing the newly warmed air through a network of ducts to where it’s needed in the building. When the set temperature is achieved, the heating element and blower fan shut off until they’re needed again.
What controls the heating elements in an electric furnace?
Sequencers: Many electric furnaces have multiple heating elements. Sequencers control when each of them is turned on and off as heat is demanded, distributing the electrical load evenly. Thermostat: Integrated with the furnace, the thermostat controls when the heating elements and blower fan come on and off, switching them on when heat is demanded, ...
What percentage of homes use electric furnaces?
An estimated 10 to 15 percent of U.S. homes use an electric furnace as their primary heat source. Learn the details of electric furnaces and how they work, so you can make a fully informed decision about how to heat your home.
How much does an electric furnace cost?
Electric furnace units range from $685 to $1,100. Installation costs range from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the unit’s size and complexity. On balance, electric furnaces are about 300 percent more expensive to use than gas-burning units.
Why are installation costs lower for electric furnaces?
Installation costs are lower due to electric furnaces not having to be vented, as gas an oil furnaces need to be.
What is a blower fan?
Blower or Blower Fan: Internal motorized fan that blows cool air over the heating element, then forces that air into the ducts, heating the building according to the thermostat’s settings.
What are the parts of an electric furnace?
Electric Furnace Parts and Features. Heat Elements: Thick bands or wires made of electrically resistant metal (usually a mixture of nickel and chromium). When electricity is fed into these, the electrical resistance produces heat. Heat Relays: These regulate how much electricity is fed into the heating elements.
How Does an Electric Furnace Work?
The heating element in the furnace itself then activates, creating warmth. An electric motor pumps cool air in from an outside source. That air passes over or through the heating elements. Then the forced-air system blows that heated air through the ducts and into your rooms.
How does a furnace motor work?
A motor will activate. It uses a blower system to draw cool outside air into the furnace through a filter. The filter is important because it gets rid of dust and other particulate matter. Then the blower passes the air directly over the red-hot heating element. The blower then pushes the air out of the furnace into the ductwork and into your home. As there are no hazardous parts to the heating elements, it’s safe for the air to pass directly over them.
What is the difference between a gas furnace and an electric furnace?
Whereas an electric furnace uses electric heating elements to create warmth, a gas furnace uses natural gas, which it ignites in a combustion chamber to produce heat. Combustion requires fresh air, but it also generates poisonous byproducts like carbon monoxide, which must be kept separate from the air sent into your home.
How does a gas furnace work?
Unlike an electric furnace, which just has one stream of air—cool air in, warm air out—a gas furnace must have two streams of air: 1 A stream that brings cool air in, heats it, and sends warm air through your home 2 A stream that brings air into the combustion chamber and expels it outside as exhaust
How does a heating system work?
By creating a point of heat and then drawing air through or past it, you can transfer that heat to the air and then disperse the air through the space to be kept warm. Whereas campfires or wood-burning stoves generate smoke and ash—meaning that some of the heat byproducts aren’t safe to breathe—modern heating systems keep the heated air entirely separate from the heat source.
How many streams of air does a gas furnace have?
Unlike an electric furnace, which just has one stream of air—cool air in, warm air out—a gas furnace must have two streams of air: A stream that brings air into the combustion chamber and expels it outside as exhaust.
Why does my thermostat send a signal to my electric heater?
Sending an electric current through these coils heats them up due to their resistance, and the greater the need for heat, the higher the number of elements activated.
How does a heat exchanger work?
The heat exchanger draws heat from the main burner and heats the air that will circulate to the house. By contrast, in an electric furnace, an electric ignition receives the thermostat signal and activates electric heating elements inside the furnace.
What is the first piece of equipment used in both furnaces?
The first piece of equipment used in both furnaces is the thermostat 2. When the temperature in the room falls below the heat set point on the thermostat, a signal is sent to the furnace unit. In the case of a gas unit, the signal will cause the pilot light to ignite the main burner of the heat exchanger.
Why is it so hard to install a gas furnace?
The main difficulty in installing a gas furnace is the safety factor of dealing with the combustive element, usually natural gas . The heat exchanger and other elements must be sealed perfectly to prevent leakage of carbon monoxide, a deadly gas, from the system.
Why is gas furnace better than electric?
Additionally, a gas furnace will heat the home faster because the heat produced is hotter than the heat produced by electric coils. This and the cheaper cost of natural gas make gas heat a better option for colder climates.
What is the difference between gas and electric furnaces?
Electric furnaces convert nearly all of their energy into heat, while gas furnaces can vary. Gas furnaces generally heat homes more quickly than electric furnaces, despite lower efficiency.
How long does a gas furnace last?
Gas systems usually last about half as long as electric systems: 10 to 20 years for gas systems as opposed to 20 to 30 years for electric systems. This mostly due to the same reasons that gas furnaces require maintenance; the burner has the ability to produce small particles that collect and build up in the furnace.
What is the most important thing to know when choosing a furnace?
When choosing your furnace, the most important thing is to have it sized properly; a too large or too small furnace will end up costing you more in energy costs. The following furnaces are our best picks both for overall use and for value; make sure you double check sizing on any furnace you purchase to ensure it will be the best unit for your home.
