Some homeowners around the country are feeling the need to go green and use electric power (and heat) from a standpoint of environmental consciousness.
Others are more pragmatic, and recognize that gas heat, though effective, affects their bottom line as much as their home's temperature.
There are the questions about costs as much as about the efficiency, of a wall-mounted electrical heater (a 120V model, for instance).
Yet pretty much, no matter how you split it, a gas furnace is more expensive.
So let's investigate some of these costs.
Unit Costs
There is no single set cost for a gas furnace. It will depend on where you are in the country, availability, and the size, power, and footprint of the system, as well as energy-efficiency ratings.
All else being equal, the more powerful a furnace, the more expensive it is. Systems with Energy Star ratings are also more expensive.
Most furnaces with BTU ratings between 40,000 and 120,000 will run between $2,000 on the low end and $6,000 on the high end.
By contrast, an eheat Envi wall-mounted electric heater (a 120V option, like the one at the previous link), costs only $179.95.
Installation Costs
After considering unit costs, you must also consider installation costs.
If all you're purchasing is the furnace, and you have ductwork and other infrastructure reading to go, you could be looking at less than $1,000. However, that figure could easily be higher.
No professional installation is needed with the electric wall heater mentioned above; only basic tools are needed, and you can perform the installation yourself as long as you have access to an outlet.
Ductwork Installation (If Necessary)
If you've never had a gas furnace installed and your home lacks ductwork, you could be looking at a price of between $10 to $20 per foot.
The average job of ductwork installation costs between $3,000 and $8,000.
The 120V eheat Envi plug-in wall-heater used as an example here requires no ductwork.
Permit Costs
Depending on where you live, you may need inspections and permits before installing a gas furnace. These may vary by state or region but can cost between $300 and $1,000 nonetheless.
Common Furnace Repairs
Now let's consider the fact that gas furnaces should be serviced, at minimum, once per year, with most service technicians suggesting a service twice per year, in the fall and spring.
There are also a number of things that can go wrong with furnaces. The following repairs are common:
- Starter failure/replacement
- Blower motor failure/replacement
- Heat exchanger malfunction
- Thermostat failure/malfunction
- Pilot control failure
In addition, furnaces often need to have their filters replaced and ductwork cleaned.
By contrast, eheat's Envi plug-in heaters (with built-in thermostats) experience none of the issues mentioned above and are effectively maintenance-free.
Get Ready to Learn More About a Better Alternative: Wall-Mounted Electric Heaters (120V)
Even taking this extremely high-level and impossibly reduced overview of the costs associated with furnace purchase, installation, and maintenance costs, it is clear that the more affordable option is a wall-mounted electric heater.
To learn more about the wall-mounted electric heaters, 120V version mentioned here, visit eheat.com or contact their customer service department at 1-800-807-0107.
