How old is your home’s heating equipment? If it’s more than a decade old, then there is a decent chance that you’re spending too much on your home heating. Older furnaces often don’t have the same energy-efficient technologies as more modern equipment. Additionally, any heating system will begin losing efficiency after 10+ years of service.
With winter nearly here in Essex, Passaic and Bergen Counties, many JW Pierson customers are talking to us about upgrading their furnaces — and whether an electric or gas option is better for their home comfort needs and budget.
All furnaces warm up your home by heating cool air and blowing it into your rooms through ducts and vents, but they differ in how they heat the air based on the energy source. A gas furnace uses a burner flame powered by fuel from a natural gas line or a propane tank, while an electric furnace uses electric coils to heat the air. Let’s see how these two energy sources compare in a few different aspects.
You’ve probably heard that electric furnaces are cheaper than gas ones. While that might be true when just considering the equipment, it doesn’t cover all the upfront costs. For instance, you might need a higher Btu electric furnace for your home since electric systems can struggle in New Jersey’s freezing winters. Plus, if you’re switching from gas to electric heating, you may have to cap a gas line and upgrade your home’s electric panel.
Generally speaking, gas furnaces are more energy efficient than electric furnaces, especially as temperatures get icy outside. Both natural gas and propane offer a robust amount of heat, regardless of outdoor conditions. Electric heating can struggle in sub-freezing conditions, and electric furnaces tend to take longer to heat up.
Even though electric furnaces don’t emit greenhouse gases right in your home, the electricity they use does. In New Jersey, the electric grid isn’t exactly eco-friendly since it still leans heavily on fossil fuels for most of its power generation. Indeed, when you compare the carbon intensity (how much CO2 is produced to generate a given amount of energy), you’ll see that both natural gas and propane have lower carbon impacts than our grid electricity.
In Maplewood, Nutley, Verona and other northern New Jersey communities, JW Pierson Co. is the most trusted installer of oil and gas furnaces. We sell high-efficiency models that can lower your annual energy spending without reducing your comfort one bit. Talk to us today about your home heating upgrade. We’ll identify the best new furnace for your needs and budget and can even help you qualify for any available rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives.
Let’s work together to boost your home heating before winter descends on the Garden State. Get in touch with the JW Pierson team today to receive a FREE estimate on a furnace installation.