When the temperature starts dropping with the freezing cold wind of winter, many people will prepare to battle the cold with their heater. If you work in outdoor buildings, you may understand how tough it is to work in cold weather. When you’re building your home or replacing your current furnace, choosing a heater can be a tricky decision.
Residences can be heated in various ways in order to keep inhabitants warm in cool or even frigid weather. The two fuel sources we’re inspecting here are electricity and natural gas. It seems obvious and it’s worth describing the main features of Gas heater vs Electric heater to heat your house.
Table of Contents
- Gas Heater vs Electric Heater
- When should you use a gas heater?
- When should you use an electric heater?
- Conclusion
Gas Heater vs Electric Heater
While the difference in Gas heater vs electric heat is quite clear, you may not be well informed about the two heater types. Before determining the option that works best for you, let’s take a deep look at each of a few factors.
1. Purchase Price
Electric heaters typically are not as expensive as gas heaters. Prices can differ depending upon the brand, size, and what types of additional attributes it comes with. The cost of a new electric heater can fluctuate between $1000 to $2500.
The beforehand payment of a gas heater will always add up to be more expensive than an electric heater. A homeowner may have to pay around $3000-$5000 for a new gas heater.
2. Energy Efficiency
Electric heaters are slightly less efficient than gas heaters. At present, the energy is transmitted to an electric furnace from the generator where productivity can decrease to 30 percent.
On the contrary, the efficiency of a gas heater is between 80 to 95 percent. Besides, if a gas and electric heater run down the same amount of time, the gas heater will produce more heat. This fact should be considered if you live in a region of the country where winters are severe and long.
3. Maintenance Cost
Electrical heaters can cost as much as three to five times more than gas heaters. It happens because electric heaters are less efficient than gas heaters. If you have had your heater on for an average of 90 minutes, it would add an average cost of $175 to your electricity bill.
Gradually, the cost of running a gas heater emerges to be much less than the expense of running an electric heater. Experts predict that gas is the cheapest fuel to use to heat a house.
4. Installation Process
Electric heaters are typically small, portable, and are connected by simply a PowerPoint cable. That’s why installing electric heaters require nearly little to no effort. The average cost of setting up an electric heater is somewhere $764. The final price for most house owners ranges between $285-$1400.
Installing a gas heater requires to be accomplished by a professional. This ensures that all parts are fitted securely and there are no pricks exist in the gas line. The gas heaters can be installed through any wall in your room but this process is expensive. If you want to transfer it to a different wall, you will need to reinstall it by any expert worker. Gas heater installation can cost you around $1200 to $5000 depending on the amount of required pipework.
5. Speed to Heat up
Electric heaters take a while to circulate the heat around the room. Larger living spaces will take more time to heat up than smaller spaces like bedrooms will take.
Gas heaters are well known for heating a room in a short period of time. Generally, it heats up a room faster than an electric heater does.
6. Room size
Electric heaters are devised for heating a single room. Experts recommend an electric heater for a bedroom, personal office, or a small apartment.
Gas heaters are perfect for huge living spaces. They are generally set up for the living room area so that heat can easily circulate around that space.
7. Transportability
An electric heater is easy to transfer from one room to another. This is also very convenient if you are renting and have to move from time to time. You just have to unplug the heater and can carry it with you.
Gas heaters are not portable because they need to be connected through a gas pipe installed in the wall. So if you are renting, you have to interact with the house owner before installing a gas heater. Of course, there will be a cost of placing it every time.
8. Size and appearance
Electric heaters are admired not only for their portability but also for their size. They come up with various sizes and shapes so that you can find something appropriate for your home. Usually, there are lots of designs available on the market for electric heaters and look trendier and more appealing.
Gas heaters are larger in size and take up more space in a room compared to an electric heater. They tend to lack more design options and not always the best sought after the furnace.
9. Safety
Using an electric heater may pose several risks considering the high wattage use. It could probably set out an electric fire when left running for a long period of time. Especially this incident occurs when the model is old and not energy efficient. The electric heater can catch fire more quickly if it is covered with a piece of cloth.
Gas heaters should be professionally checked over every few years to make sure each part is running perfectly. They naturally produce carbon monoxide and water vapor which can attract molds. Gas heaters distribute fumes outside through the pipe but it is better to set them out in a ventilated area.
10. Allergies
Electric heaters can easily disperse dust particles, pollen, and other allergens such as pet hair around your room. A few brands are certified Allergy and asthma-friendly. So if you suffer from allergies you can search for them.
Gas heaters are suggested for those who suffer from dust allergies or asthma. It is highly recommended to use gas heaters in a well-ventilated room to keep the air circulation fresh and clean.
When should you use a gas heater?
Gas heaters can be your preference if you live in a large house and/or in a cold climate. Higher heating requirements in these circumstances allow a gas heater to recover the more expensive upfront cost.
When should you use an electric heater?
Electric heaters could be a supreme option for smaller houses or those located in warmer areas. The cheaper purchase and installation cost in addition to fewer maintenance requirements are highly preferable in these situations.
Conclusion
Coming to a conclusion about Gas heater vs Electric heater and determining which is the best is kind of impossible. While trying to decide between these two heaters, you should consider first your lifestyle, residence, and willingness to pay. They each have their own strengths. An electric heater is cheaper to install but it can be more expensive to operate. On the other hand, gas heaters are more efficient but they have a higher installation expense. However, it is not just the expense you may think about. You should also consider how the heat is spread around your home. Besides, the environmental effect of your house heating is another major factor.