When you’re looking for a furnace replacement, you may wonder whether you should stay with the fuel source you have or switch to another one. Oftentimes the right answer boils down to cost and convenience. Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning, Gaithersburg’s top HVAC company, has some advice for you about electric and gas furnace replacement.
How Long Does a Furnace Last?
The average gas furnace lasts between 15-20 years. The average electric furnace lasts between 20-30 years. Whether yours is on the low or high end of the scale depends on several factors.
One is how often you use it. Here in Maryland, we have four distinct seasons, with average winter temperatures at around 34 degrees. That’s pretty chilly, so you’ll definitely need a reliable furnace. You will likely turn on your furnace around the November timeframe and run it straight through till Spring.
A second important factor is how often you get furnace maintenance. Getting scheduled service every year before the cold season arrives can greatly help in extending the life of your furnace.
Fuel Choices
The most common fuel used to heat homes in Maryland is natural gas, with more than 4 out of 10 homes using gas furnaces. A close second is electricity, and the rest is divided into oil, propane, and kerosene.
Like many gas appliances, the initial investment of a gas furnace is more expensive than an electric furnace. However, the cost of natural gas is usually far less than electricity.
Using oil to heat a home is more common in rural areas where gas lines aren’t available. It is cheaper to heat a home with oil than with electricity, but oil is about four times the price of natural gas.
Propane is affordable and it’s versatile because you can use it with a furnace or a boiler. But propane is stored in a large tank on your property, which some homeowners find off-putting. The same is true for oil and kerosene.
Furnace Replacement: Which Should You Choose?
Before it is time to replace your furnace, research what it will take to switch fuel sources. It’s easy enough to switch from natural gas to electricity, but the opposite is not necessarily true. Even if natural gas lines are available in your area, there is an added cost to bring the lines into the house.
Reliable HVAC Service
If your furnace is more than 10 years old, now is the time to start thinking about what type you will choose when furnace replacement becomes necessary. Depend on Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning for the best advice regarding furnace installation and replacement.