Electric Heaters vs Gas Heaters – Which Type is better in 2023?
Short Answer: Electric heaters have low installation and maintenance costs compared with gas counterparts. However, gas heaters are more economical in terms of fuel consumption and they can heat a room within a short time as well.
The time has finally arrived when you decide to choose either a gas or an electric heater as your main heating option for your home or apartment.
But the confusion of whether to choose electric heaters vs gas heaters remains same.
Today, we’ll focus on what to expect from gas or electric furnaces along with their features, pros, and cons, etc.
The final takeaway of Scarlett Dowden would decide on what’s better from different angles.
Let’s get right into the main discussion, without any further ado:
Electric Heaters vs Gas Heaters: The Basic Comparison Chart
Getting started with the basics, here’s a look at comparison between both heater types:
| Features | Electric Heater | Gas Heater |
|---|---|---|
| Working Operation | Heating a heat element via Electric Resistance | Combustion of Gas |
| Area of Heating | From zone to zone | More of Centralized |
| Installation and Assembling Costs | $800 to $1300 | $4900-$5900 |
| Heating Efficiency | 100% | Somewhere around 80 to 90% |
| Cost Per 1,000,000 BTU | $32 to $35 | $18 to $20 |
From this chart, it’s pretty much evident that an electric heater has an upper hand over a gas heater.
However, the story doesn’t end here!
Let’s dig deep into what both furnace types offer before jumping to any conclusion:
Pros and Cons of an Electric Heater:
Installation:
First things first, installing an electric heater requires less effort. You can easily install portable or wall mounted electric heating furnaces on your own.
The fast and pacy installation makes it a perfect solution for small homes and rooms that can get heated up in a short time.
Cost:
Quite honestly, electric heaters are quite cheaper. I mean, on average, an electric furnace from a reliable brand will cost you around $800 with proper installation.
That’s extremely less when we compare it with the gas counterpart. However, it does consume electricity which is quite expensive.
It’s better to use an electric heating system when it’s necessary. You could avoid high electricity bills this way.
Lifespan:
Electric furnaces take the crown in this field as well. A good electric heater lasts for 20 to 30 years with proper maintenance, attention, and care.
Lifespan, however, also depends upon the brand you are investing in. If it’s reliable enough, you’ll get an average usage time of around 15 to 30 years quite easily.
This lifespan ratio is more than what we experience with the gas heaters.
Maintenance and Care:
Care and maintenance for such type of heater is quite easy and convenient at the same time.
In fact, you can cover all the maintenance on your own. Just go through the user manual of the model that you are currently using and you’ll find some interesting maintenance tips to prolong the lifespan of the heater.
It’s also a fact that it’s very rare hiring a technician for maintaining an electric heater as such type won’t show any issues. In case of breaking down any component, however, you have to consult the expert.
Safety and Protection:
Electric heaters use electricity and fuel, which doesn’t produce any byproduct. That’s not the case with gas heaters as a lot of carbon monoxide is produced during the combustion.
On the contrary, high-tier electric appliances could malfunction or cause short circuit issues but that’s extremely rare.
Just maintain a good electrical supply and don’t use cheap wiring to avoid such issues while using an electric heater.
To Conclude:
The only drawback we see in an electric heater is that it consumes electricity, which is costly. Other than that, it’s quite a good option for single rooms and small apartments.
Pros and Cons of Gas Heaters:
Let’s discuss some of the positives and negatives of gas counterparts now:
Installation:
Gas heaters require proper installation, i.e., gas connection, chimney for emissions, and other installation accessories.
Not only does it take more time, you cannot install such heaters on your own. In other words, you have to hire a professional for it.
In short, the installation costs would go as high as possible while you try to install a gas heating system at your home.
Cost:
It’s a no-brainer that gas heaters are expensive than electric heaters. Along with the main model, you’ll have to purchase its installation accessories, parts, and other extras.
If you sum that up along with the services fee of an expert, the cost could go as high as a few thousand bucks.
So, that’s THAT.
Lifespan:
Compared to electric heaters, gas heaters could not last for long. One of the reasons is that gas combustion requires quite a lot of maintenance and most of the homeowners are careless with it.
It results in less durability and sturdiness. So, the gas furnaces could not excel more than 10 to 15 years at most.
Their quality starts degrading after 5 years and keeps on touching new lows if you don’t take care of the maintenance costs.
Maintenance and Care:
The overall maintenance of a gas heating appliance requires hiring an expert. You simply cannot do it on your own no matter how knowledgeable you are.
It’s kinda difficult taking care of the gas furnace system as it requires more money and resources.
Safety and Protection:
After all, it’s natural gas that produces carbon monoxide after combustion.
More than that, gas leaks are extremely hazardous and could cause severe damage to the lungs with an imminent result of death.
So, all these worries are there while you are thinking of the gas heating systems.
Suitability:
Last but not the least, gas heaters suit large apartments and homes more. You can install these units at large offices, homes, hallways, and schools, etc.
In this aspect, the electric heaters lag behind as they cannot heat a large area in a short time easily.
My Takeaway:
Well, in the battle between electric heaters vs gas heaters, it’s visible that the previous type is better than the latter.
However, when it comes to large areas, you could choose a gas furnace system as it can sustain large buildings and hallways for a long time.
Do tell us what kind of heater you are using at your home and what advantages or disadvantages you think these units offer.
Good Luck!!
