What type of furnace is the best to get for your home? Is a gas, electric and oil furnace basically the same thing? With each furnace type you are getting positives and negatives.
A lot of homes choose to go with a gas heating option since it is very efficient.
It can heat a large space or an entire home with little to no difficulty. The price of gas typically is not that much and it can last to around twenty years. However, with a gas heater you are looking at a hefty heating maintenance bill. The HVAC contractor should seasonally come out and clean the heating device. Leaving the gas furnace dirty can result in it lighting on fire or even leaking carbon monoxide. It is very dangerous when not taken care of. Additionally, the installation process of a gas furnace is quite expensive, invasive and time consuming due to the gas hookups and flue system. An electric furnace is much safer and easier to install. Additionally, the electricity used is 100% efficient. While gas burns and churns, electricity just fires right up. However, using power over gas or oil is way more expensive. So most bigger homes do not want to rely on electrical powered heaters. An oil furnace actually burns a hotter flame and has an AFUE rating of 80-90 percent. The cost of oil is typically not that expensive and this system can last around 30 years with proper care. The snag with this heating system is that it requires an on site oil tank. It takes up quite a bit of room and is quite an eye sore in the home.