When it comes to ways to heat your home, you’ve got lots of options. It’s a good idea to think through them so you make the best choice for your individual situation.
Factors to consider include the size of your home, whether you want to heat your entire home or be able to heat just certain rooms or zones, the climate where you live, the energy efficiency of the type of furnace & heater you’re considering, how the heater is installed, the safety of the system, the noise level, and the maintenance needed to keep the system operating safely and efficiently. Cost, of course, is always a key consideration.
Here’s a primer on electric furnaces & heaters and other options for keeping your home warm. It’s helpful to have an overview of your options before you talk with an HVAC professional.
How They Work
Electric furnaces work by heating elements with an electric current, then circulating warm air via a blower or fan through a system air ducts into your house.
Efficiency
With nearly all of the energy converted into heat, electric furnaces are highly efficient.
Features in today’s electric furnaces such as multi-stage heating and variable-speed blowers help you maximize their efficiency for your home.
The overall efficiency of your unit will be impacted by how well your home is insulated, how your ducts are designed, and the temperature at which you set your thermostat.
Where They’re Used
Electric furnaces are used in commercial buildings, apartment buildings, and residential homes.
These furnaces tend to be more compact and smaller than, say, gas or oil-fueled furnaces, making space less of a consideration.
Installation of an electric furnace doesn’t require fuel lines or an exhaust system as it does a gas or oil furnace.
Safety
When an electric furnace is installed properly – which usually requires a professional installer – with correct circuit capacity and correct wiring, and maintained properly, it’s a very safe system.
Noise Level
Electric furnaces are relatively quiet. There is, however, noise from the fan or blower. If that noise level is an issue for you, consider a different type of heater for your home.
Maintenance
Keeping an electric furnace well-maintained requires relatively low effort. Be sure your electrical connections are inspected regularly, replace air filters, and keep the blower or fan clean. Professional inspections are recommended.
Cost Considerations
When compared to other whole-house systems, especially gas or oil-fueled furnaces, an electric furnace typically costs less to purchase and install. The overall cost to operate will depend on the cost of electricity in your area, as well as your usage patterns.
Electric Boilers
How They Work
An electric boiler circulates steam or water that is heated electrically through your home via pipes under the floor, baseboards, or radiators.
Efficiency
Since an electric boiler converts energy into heat with no loss of heat through a chimney and no combustion, modern boiler systems are almost 100% efficient.
Where They’re Used
Electric boilers are often used in large commercial or multi-family residential buildings, as well as in residential homes.
Safety
Compared to gas or oil boilers, today’s eclectic boilers are relatively safe.
Noise level
The only noise an electric boiler creates is from the circulation pump as it pushes water or steam through the system.
Maintenance
Maintaining an electric boiler involves making sure water is flowing properly, the electrical components are functioning as they should, and the heating elements are in good condition.
Cost considerations
The cost of an electric boiler will vary depending on the size and brand. Installation will typically be lower than the cost of installing a gas or oil-fueled boiler. Utility costs will depend on your usage patterns, how well your home holds heat, and the cost of electricity in your area.
Electric Heat Pumps
How They Work
Electric heat pumps can both heat and cool your home.
To warm your home, they take heat from the outside air or the ground and move it inside. To cool it, they reverse that process and refrigerate the air to the temperature on your thermostat.
Efficiency
Electric heat pumps create 2.5 to 4 units of heat energy for every unit of electric power they use, making them highly efficient. As with all heating and cooling systems, your usage habits and how well your home is insulated will affect their efficiency.
Where They’re Used
An electric heat pump is a good choice if you live in a region where the temperatures don’t get extremely cold. They need a difference in the outdoor and indoor temperatures to work best. In extremely cold weather, you may need to have some other sources of heat to add to what the heat pump system can do.
Safety
When they’re installed and maintained correctly, electric heat pumps are very safe to use, especially in comparison to systems that use fossil fuels.
Noise level
Inside your home, electric heat pumps are fairly quiet. The only noise they create is from the fan. The outdoor compressor unit and fan can create noise, depending on the model and how it’s installed.
Maintenance
To keep your electric heat pump working well, you’ll want to clean and/or replace the air filters regularly, and have regular inspections by an experienced HVAC tech.
Cost considerations
Installing an electric heat pump can cost more than installing other types of heating systems. But over time, you should make up that cost difference in energy savings. There may be rebates and incentives available in your area for this type of system. The final cost will be driven by the size of the system, the brand, and any special features.
Electric Radiant Floor Heaters
How They Work
Electric radiant floor heating systems do just what the name implies: they use electricity to heat hot water pipes or electric cables installed under flooring that conducts heat well. The heat from the floor rises, warming your home.
Efficiency
Since these types of heating systems don’t push heat through ducts, they’re highly efficient. No heat is lost and all the energy is used for heat.
Where They’re Used
If your home is in a cold climate, a radiant floor heating system could be the right choice for you, especially if you’re building a home or commercially building versus retro-fitting it. There are even driveways that are heated with radiant heat.
Safety
Radiant floor heating systems are very safe, since there are no open flames or surfaces that are so hot they may cause a fire. With no air ducts, they also minimize dust and allergens.
Noise level
With no fans or moving parts, radiant floor heating systems are essentially silent.
Maintenance
If you’re using a hydronic radiant floor heating system that runs water through pipes, you’ll want to periodically check for leaks. Otherwise, with proper installation, these systems are virtually maintenance-free.
Cost considerations
The cost of a radiant floor heating system using electric resistance cables in new construction is much lower than retrofitting an existing home or installing a hydronic radiant floor system. After installation, your cost will be driven by your usage patterns and utility rates.
Electric Baseboard Heaters
How They Work
Electric baseboard heaters work by creating a convection loop that pulls cool air in, warms it, then radiates it out as the warm air rises.
Efficiency
Electric baseboard heaters can be less cost-effective as they’re typically less efficient than radiant floor heating, for example.
Where They’re Used
Often used to supplement another heating system or to heat specific rooms or zones in a home, depending on the climate where you live, an electric baseboard heating system may not be a complete solution for you.
Safety
When properly installed, electric baseboard heaters are considered safe. You do need to be careful with pets and children around them as the baseboard housing can become hot to the touch.
Noise level
The only sound that electric baseboard heaters may create would be minimal from metal contracting and expanding. Otherwise, they’re silent.
Maintenance
Maintenance for electric baseboard heaters is minimal. Check the electrical connections regularly and keep dust out of the grilles.
Cost considerations
If you need to heat just a room or a zone in your home, electric baseboard heaters can be a great option cost-wise. Installation is straight-forward, and you don’t need to install or connect to duct work.
Electric Wall Heaters
How They Work
As their name implies, electric wall heaters are installed on a wall, with electrically-heated elements inside that radiates heat into the room, or they may have a fan to push warm air out.
Efficiency
An electric wall heater used to heat just one room is fairly efficient. They’re not designed for, nor would they operate efficiently as, a whole-house heating system.
Where They’re Used
Small rooms like bathrooms, bedrooms or offices are where you’ll typically find electric wall heaters being used. They’re not a practical solution for whole-house heating.
Safety
If you’ve kept the immediate area around an electric wall heater clear and avoid touching its surface during operation, an electric wall heater is generally safe if it’s been installed correctly.
Noise level
An electric wall heater with a fan will produce some noise. Otherwise, they operate silently.
Maintenance
Maintaining an electric wall heater is easy and straightforward. Keep the grill clean, and periodically check the electrical connections and thermostat.
Cost considerations
If you’re using an electric wall heater to heat just one room, or to supplement in just one area, it’s cost-effective. If it’s the only heating source for a whole house, however, it’s likely to not only not provide enough heat, but to also increase your utility bill.
The Best Way to Make The Best Choice
After you’ve educated yourself about the available furnaces & heaters, the next best step you can take is to talk with an HVAC professional to narrow down your choices.
