There are a lot of furnace options to choose from, but not all of them are created equal. Having a good understanding of the different types of furnaces and the potential advantages and disadvantages of each can help you decide.
Below, we go over four distinct furnace types, which ones are best, and when to invest in a furnace for your home or business.
Gas Furnaces
Natural gas is an abundant resource in most places and is more affordable than other fuels like oil or wood. A furnace that uses gas can heat and distribute air quickly throughout multiple rooms at one time, all without compromising efficiency. These systems also have a long lifespan and can last between 15 to 30 years with professional maintenance.
Propane Furnaces
For home and business owners in places that don’t have access to natural gas, propane could be a good alternative. These appliances are just as effective as gas heaters and when compared to the cost of connecting gas lines to your property, a propane furnace is likely going to be cheaper.
That said, propane needs to be stored in a large metal tank on your property, which is usually filled once or twice a year depending on its size.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces use resistance heating to heat up air, which is both less effective and more expensive than natural gas or propane. These systems can also take longer to heat your space, so they generally aren’t recommended as a primary source of heating.
Oil Furnaces
Oil furnaces burn heating oil to generate warmth instead of gas or propane, which ultimately results in more soot and greenhouse gas emissions entering the atmosphere. The cost of oil changes based on market conditions, so you never really know how much you’re going to spend on heating during a season with these systems.
What Are Furnaces Used For?
Furnaces are used for a wide variety of applications, including but not limited to:
Residential Heating
The most common place furnaces are used is in residential homes. A properly sized system can keep an entire house at a consistent, comfortable temperature day and night without worry.
Commercial Heating
Furnaces can also be used to heat office buildings, stores, restaurants, medical offices, and other buildings that require larger heating loads or specific customizations.
Warehouse Heating
Large, industrial-style furnaces are often used to heat warehouses, shipping and packaging facilities, chemical processing plants, and spaces where products or equipment must be kept at room temperature.
Advantages of Gas Furnaces Over Other Kinds
Natural gas-powered furnaces offer several advantages for home and business owners, including:
Cheaper Utility Bills
In most areas, gas is more affordable than electricity, heating oil, and even wood logs or pellets. Unlike oil, which can change rapidly in price from day to day, the stable price of gas allows you to budget for your seasonal heating costs more effectively.
Faster Heating
Unlike electric furnaces that take time to heat up your space, the combustion process with gas is instant. This gives you warmth right away, which can be helpful during Cape Cod’s unpredictable cold snaps or when you’ve just come inside from the frigid outdoors.
Low Maintenance
Most furnaces only need one annual maintenance and tune-up appointment per year. This helps catch potential problems early, before they escalate into major issues that are much costlier to fix.
High Reliability
Gas furnaces are designed to be highly reliable and have fewer mechanical parts that can fail compared to other systems. They can also be outfitted with additional features like a smart thermostat that allows you to automate your heating schedule.
Need Help Choosing the Right Kind of Furnace? Call Cape Cod Heat Pumps
Get the professional guidance you need when choosing your furnace by working with the gas heating experts at Cape Cod Heat Pumps. Call now to learn more or schedule an installation quote at 508-833-4822.