Shopping around for a new or replacement heating system? If so, you might be finding yourself a little surprised, and maybe even overwhelmed. There are tons of heating solutions out there, and it can quite hard to find the best unit for your home if you lack the experience of a professional.

Are you a big fan of furnaces, but you’re not quite sure if gas or electric is the way to go? If so, our experts can help!

At Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical, we’re about more than just providing HVAC service. We’re about providing the right service! The one that brings you the most comfort, the most reliability, and the most efficiency for your St. Charles home. As to whether a gas furnace or electric furnace fits those needs best, it may depend. Read on to find out more!

Consider Cost

Cost is, of course, a huge consideration for any homeowner in the St. Louis area. So how do these two stack up? Well…

Electric furnaces tend to be far less costly to purchase and install, making them an easy choice for homeowners on a tight budget at the moment. However, knowing that, electricity costs more to use regularly, so even though electric heating is more efficient, it will cost you more on an average monthly basis than gas.

Gas furnaces cost a bit more to install, which often deters a lot of buyers. But the thing is gas is considerably cheaper to use regularly.

Consider Comfort

What’s next after cost? Comfort is a no-brainer! When you’re comparing gas and electric, there are some differences here, too.

Electric furnaces bring plenty of power to the table and are perfectly sufficient for providing the heating you need all winter long.

Gas furnaces, on the other hand, are the real powerhouses. Gas will heat your home faster, easier, and with far less effort overall. What’s more, gas performs exceptionally regardless of what might be going on outside, which is why gas is often used in particularly frigid environments.

Consider Lifespan

So which one lasts longer overall? The answer might surprise you.

Electric furnaces tend to last anywhere from fifteen to twenty years before they begin to experience drops inefficiency and an increased frequency of repairs needed.

Gas Furnaces on average last around a decade. You might get more mileage by pursuing routine professional maintenance, but when we’re talking generalities, you should plan on having the system for around a decade.

Which Furnace is the Right Choice for You?

This depends a lot on the size of your home, your carbon footprint preferences, and your budget. While electric furnaces are more energy-efficient, they rely on electricity, which means you should probably install a generator if you want to keep it running through power outages. Natural gas is reliable, readily available, and inexpensive. Many families in St. Charles and St. Louis County choose gas because it burns cleaner than oil and is less expensive than electricity. Natural gas also does extremely well heating larger homes during our frigid Midwest winters.

As you can see, the question gets fairly complex the more you know about these two heating systems. Electric costs less to purchase, more to operate, but lasts longer. Gas is inexpensive to operate but tends to need repair more often. In the end, your best bet is always to work with certified professionals.

The experts at Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical carry years of experience and knowledge in handling both of these heating systems, and we can work right alongside you to find the best option to suit your long and short-term needs!

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