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Comparing Gas, Oil, and Electric Furnaces
When replacing your furnace or installing one in your home for the first time, an important factor in choosing which system to use is determining the best fuel source for your home—oil, gas, or electricity. All three provide the heat you need to be comfortable in your home, but the choice is based on geographic location, the needs of your home, fuel available in your area, and how energy efficient you want your system to be.
Benefits of a Gas Furnace
- Environmentally friendly, clean-burning fuel
- Gas is readily available in many areas
- Gas is delivered to your home continually via underground lines, with no tank or scheduled delivery required
- Gas is less expensive than electricity in many areas
Benefits of an Oil Furnace
- Generates heat faster than furnaces heated with other fuels
- Heating oil is readily available in regions with very cold winters
- Budgeting is easy in areas where you can lock in rates with suppliers
- Heating oil can be less expensive than electricity or gas
Benefits of an Electric Furnace
- Easier to install than gas or oil because it doesn’t require fuel lines
- The most energy efficient, because it converts all the electricity into heat energy
- Quieter than gas or oil furnaces