Pros and cons of Electric and Gas Furnaces

When it comes to Gas VS Electric Furnace, making a wise choice between the two requires some calculations about the loss and the benefit so that maximum efficiency can be achieved in a minimum budget.

Gas furnace

It typically operates using a conventional burner, which uses a pilot light and a gas feed to produce a flame that is contained within a refractory burner tile.

The Pros -

- A gas system is less expensive to operate. It is typically cheaper to run due to lower fuel costs and improved energy efficiency. It will typically reach desired temperatures faster, consuming significantly less fuel while heating-up. This results in appreciable savings in the long-term

- The system may last up to 20-years provided the maintenance is properly governed.

- Generally, it heats up the home faster and tend to be more efficient in really cold temperatures because gas systems will achieve a higher temperature than electric units in extreme temperatures so it has better efficiency.


The Cons -

- It has an expensive upfront if it requires plumbing into a supply line – which is typically the case. It can ,however, be costly and infeasible to have them installed

- It has carbon monoxide (CO) safety concerns which can be harmful to personnel. The Gas furnaces emit a low level of CO and the homeowner must be sure the unit is working properly at all times so a CO detector is usually required as well.

- It requires efficient and professional regular maintenance

- Can be noisy except for the latest models with low DB.


Electric furnace

An electric furnace works by turning on a series of electric heating elements that generate heat through coils, much like the heating elements in a toaster or electric oven.

The PROS-

- They are one of the least expensive furnaces to purchase and install since these do not make use of fuel combustion so the initial investment is quite low

- Maintaining an electrical unit is generally not tedious and doesn’t require much professional attention. Many times, if homeowners have issues, they can troubleshoot without calling an expert.

- The durability is from 20 to 30 years

- An electric Furnace causes less disruption to the home environment and poses less of a risk.


The Cons-

- It costs more to run every month than a gas furnace since electricity is costly.

- Electric heating is inherently inefficient and requires a long run for heating large spaces. This option may not be available to you if you own a large area. In order to achieve the desired temperature, people often have to set the thermostat much higher than the temperature they would actually like to achieve

- It may be more expensive to repair. While these furnaces do not require repairs as often, when repairs are required, they are often quite expensive.

In a nutshell ,whatever you decide to do, it’s all a matter of preference. Residential Energy Calculator is beneficial where you plug in your figures to generate potential costs. No matter what, you need to know all of the pros and cons with each option to make an educated decision.

Still need help with the decision? Call us today; 
905-910-1488

p1

Condenser VS Evaporator Coil - Whether to go Aluminium or Copper?


For a long time, copper coils were used in condenser and evaporator until recently when Aluminum took over primarily as a result of the price hike in copper. Copper being highly cost-effective (earlier), having a good heat transfer rate (two times greater than aluminum), and very flexible to use has remained the only preferable choice of manufacturers. But as mentioned, the price hike, made it inevitable to look for an alternative and the alternative came in the form of Aluminium. The trend of using Copper in coils hasn't yet completely gone. However, the units with copper coils are evidently expensive now. All aluminum, all copper and combination of Aluminium and Copper is now in the market. You, as a homeowner can choose which unit to go for provided that you have sufficient knowledge about what difference copper and aluminum coils can really make.


Copper is great but not always - Difficult Repairing

We've always discussed why the price factor now makes copper a not so good option. There is, however, another factor and that is of difficulty in repairing. Manufacturers who are still using copper in coils are making the structure very thin, which makes repairing very difficult and brazing, impossible.

Aluminum is a great corrosion resistor. Copper? No!

One of the primary attributes of aluminum as a metal is that it is resistant to corrosion and is, therefore, used in submarines. This factor gives it an edge over copper. Contrarily, the leaking of copper coils is a common thing to happen. They frequently leak and provided the latest structure that they are made in; very thin, the repair becomes impossible. Although the repair is almost equally difficult for Aluminium, aluminum doesn't leak or corrode much. It's in years that an aluminum coil corrodes.

Copper is efficient but beware!

For a fact that had been established; of the efficiency of copper, some manufacturers are bent on using copper coils despite the price hikes. But the solution they have found is that the coils are made very thin which leads to a number of problems when doing maintenance and repair. Therefore, even if you have money to buy a unit with copper coils, reconsider whether the unit is worth the money or it's just similar to buying copper in a false hope of buying a great unit.

What do professionals suggest?

An HVAC professional at PICK HVAC suggests that using an all-copper unit (but clearly not the intentionally made thin coils) is always better than an all-aluminum unit. By all copper and all-aluminum means units in which fins, as well as the coils, are made of the same material. The third best is the copper coil with aluminum fins units.

While this blog was only a basic idea for homeowners to understand what kind of materials are being used in their HAVC units and what replacements are taking place, we highly recommend that homeowners consult a couple of HVAC services in their vicinity to confirm which unit would work best for them. Because the compatibility varies system to system. In addition, climate changes, usage, and some other factors make aluminum coils best for some and worst for others.

Consult before making a purchase.
Need our help in purchases? Call today 1-855-245-4328

p1