Although the gas furnace remains the most common type of heating system in the country today, there are a number of benefits electric furnaces offer that draw many homeowners to install them each year.
- Safety: Gas furnaces can pose safety hazards if they are neglected and do not receive prompt repairs. An electric furnace is safer, even if it doesn’t receive the maintenance it should. (This shouldn’t be an excuse to let maintenance slide, however!) If you do not wish to use natural gas in your home because of concerns over carbon monoxide, then an electric furnace is a good choice.
- Durability: Because electric furnaces do not use any combustion gases, instead warming the air with electrical resistance heating, they do not suffer from rapid aging because of chemical reactions between the gases and metal. As a result, an electric furnace will last longer than other types of furnaces.
- Lower installation costs: Electricity is a pricier energy source than natural gas, so electrical furnaces are more expensive to run. However, they have lower prices for initial installation, and since they do not need to run as much during the year in warm Los Angeles, they are sometimes the best budgetary choice.