Some homes in the Greater Vancouver area have electric furnaces, especially in smaller homes or areas where gas heat is not available.
The currently low price of natural gas makes electric furnaces about 3 times as expensive to run as natural gas furnaces, making them unpopular in new homes.
Although electric furnaces are easier to maintain than gas models, since they are much less common it is important to get a professional who is experienced in their service and repair.
Note that electric furnaces are sometimes known as “air handlers”, especially when they have a built in evaporator coil for use in conjunction with an air conditioner or heat pump.
Although electric furnaces cost more to run, they are less expensive to install and also a bit more reliable, as there are fewer parts. Some also prefer electric furnaces as they are arguably safer and more environmentally friendly than gas models.
In the event of an overload, a common automatic circuit breaker trips to shut of power to the furnace, though this scenario is extremely unlikely when your electric furnace is installed by our professional technicians. Most electric furnaces operate on 240 volts, which is commonly used for electric stoves, clothes driers and water heaters.
Save On Energy With a Heat Pump
Sometimes customers ask us about replacing their gas furnace with an electric furnace (which are also known as air handlers). However, with natural gas prices relatively low right now, an electric furnace would be increase your energy costs by an estimated 200% or more. Even though electric furnaces are easier to maintain, the higher energy costs would easily eliminate any potential savings.
For customers who are looking for a more environmentally friendly option than a gas furnace, we would recommend adding a heat pump. Heat pumps run on electricity, but since they only move heat from outdoors into your home, they can operate at over 300% efficiency, making them more than 3 times as efficient as electric furnaces (except on very cold days where a back up furnace will be required as there will not be enough heat in the outdoor air for a heat pump to operate effectively)
Also, in some cases it can be economical for a home with electric heat to convert to gas- if gas service is available. If you are interested in converting from an electric furnace to a gas one, give us a call.
Call Us For a Free Furnace Consultation
If you are interested in installing an electric furnace or a new heat pump, then call us for a free in-home consultation and quotation. Also call us if you would like to have your current electric furnace serviced or repaired. No matter what part of the Greater Vancouver area you live in, we offer comprehensive repair and insta
By: Andrew Lake