Can You Replace A Gas Furnace With Electric

Level 2 cjhermes14 2 points 5 years ago.

Can you replace a gas furnace with electric. If your home doesn t use natural gas power and your current furnace is an electrical model then making the change to a heat pump is a fantastic idea. In cases where a gas furnace or even oil is present a heat pump can be configured to utilize it as a secondary backup heat source. The cost of a new electric furnace ranges from 1 000 to 2 500 while a gas furnace will cost between 3 000and 4 000before installation. Electric home furnaces are also more quiet when operating than a gas furnace.

But a standard heat pump installation utilizes auxiliary electric heating coils built into the air handler which are engaged by the system below a certain temperature or in the event of a compressor failure as emergency heat. According to a wisconsin utility company that offers both heating fuels homeowners living in cold climates can save 1 700 a year by using gas instead of electric heat. You make the connection right inside the junction box built into the furnace although you ll want to mount a switch somewhere in the circuit so you can power down the furnace. You can replace the gas furnace with what ever kind you want electric oil gas.

It really depends though on where you live. Heat pumps are also electrically powered but in heating mode they consume far less energy than a furnace. An electric furnace will really drive up your electric bill though. Another option if your inspector allows it is to wire on a cord and simply plug the furnace into a nearby electrical outlet.

Electric furnaces are generally less expensive to purchase than gas furnaces and cheaper to install. This means you can expect lower heating bills with a gas furnace than with electric heat. Although an electric furnace will require less maintenance. A heat pump will allow you to heat and cool your home with just one appliance while an electric furnace would require a separate a c unit to cool your home in the summer.

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. Electric furnace installation is a pretty straightforward process and due to them not needing to be vented are much easier to replace than gas furnaces.