Do you know whether your furnace runs on gas or electricity? Both types heat the air in your home, but they work differently.
Knowing which kind of heater you have is key to caring for it properly so it can provide you with reliable, efficient, and safe warmth all winter. Our guide shows how to identify your furnace and explains what it means for maintenance and repairs.
Quick Takeaways
- Furnaces can be gas or electric depending on your home’s setup and utilities.
- Gas furnaces use natural gas or propane; electric furnaces use electricity only.
- You can usually identify a gas furnace by finding a connected gas line or exhaust vent.
- Gas and electric furnaces require different repair approaches.
- A professional HVAC technician can safely confirm which kind of furnace you have at home.
Are Furnaces Gas or Electric? (Short Answer)
Furnaces produce heat by burning fuel, like gas, or by using electric coils and a metal heat exchanger to warm the air in your house. Each type of furnace uses different parts and processes to generate heat.
The type of furnace you have generally depends on the region you live in, your access to utilities, and the age of your home (with gas furnaces being more common in older homes.)
How to Tell If Your Furnace Is Gas or Electric
Discovering what kind of furnace you have is usually a straightforward process. Here’s how to tell if your furnace is gas or electric.
Check for a Gas Line
Gas lines are PVC, HDPE, iron, steel, or copper pipes that bring natural gas into your home. While gas lines may be concealed behind walls or under floorboards, their valves and connections must be accessible.
The line that extends from the primary supply line to your furnace will look like a rigid pipe with a horizontal or vertical orientation. It usually enters the furnace at the bottom of its housing and connects directly to the gas valve, located within the furnace’s burner compartment.
Look for an Exhaust Vent or Flue
When gas furnaces burn fuel, they create harmful byproducts like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Venting these pollutants away from your home ensures that your air stays safe to breathe and helps your furnace work efficiently.
Furnace vents are typically located in the attic, basement, or along exterior walls. They expel gases through a pipe that exits the side of the home or a flue pipe that runs up a metal or masonry chimney on the roof. If you don’t have an exhaust vent, there’s a good chance your furnace is electric.
Look Inside the Furnace Panel
Most furnaces have a removable front panel that makes service easier. If you take the panel off, you can look inside your furnace and check for a gas line or blue flame, which indicates you have a gas-powered furnace.
If you find wiring or sensors behind the panel, you have an electric furnace. Gas furnaces may also have a small window that allows you to see the pilot light’s flame without needing to open the furnace.
Check Your Utility Bill
Utility bills for gas furnaces and electric furnaces are not the same, so you can use them to identify your furnace. A gas bill will be separate from your electric bill, and it will show your energy usage in therms (or CCF/MCF).
The energy an electric furnace uses will be measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and accounted for in your electric bill. Typically, heating your home with a gas furnace is less expensive than using an electric furnace.
What Is a Gas Furnace?
A gas furnace produces heat by burning gas in a combustion chamber and using a heat exchanger to warm the surrounding air, which gets forced into your home through ductwork.
Its essential components include:
- Thermostat
- Gas Valve
- Pilot Light and Burners
- Flame Sensor (safety sensor)
- Igniter
- Combustion Chamber
- Heat exchanger
- Blower motor and fan
- Air filter
- Control board
Gas furnaces typically run on natural gas or propane. They are common because they are cost-effective, reliable, and efficient. They also tend to perform better than heat pumps in cold climates with sub-freezing temperatures.
What Is an Electric Furnace?
An electric furnace uses electric current that creates resistance as it runs through heating coils and warms the surrounding air. A fan pushes the warm air through ductwork into your home.
An electric furnace’s essential parts include:
- Thermostat
- Metal or ceramic heating elements
- Blower Motor & Fan
- Control Board/Sequencer
- Safety Limit Switches
- Air Filter
Homeowners may use electric furnaces when they live in a mild climate, when gas is unavailable in their area, or when they want to save money on installing a new unit. Though electric furnaces can cost more to run, they are safer and cleaner to operate, easier to maintain, and compatible with renewable energy sources.
Electric furnaces make sense in areas where sub-freezing temperatures are rare or where gas lines or service are unavailable. They are also good for homeowners who want to improve their air quality and eliminate all possible risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Here are some key differences between gas and electric furnaces:
Safety
- Gas furnaces carry risks of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, and fire or explosion.
- Electric furnaces do not produce carbon monoxide, but they can carry risks of electrical shock or fire.
Regular maintenance and inspections and ensuring proper airflow can minimize safety risks associated with both types of furnaces. If you have a gas furnace, install a CO detector and ensure your home is well-ventilated.
Operating Characteristics
Choosing a gas furnace or an electric furnace depends on your priorities, since each type has different operating characteristics.
- Gas furnaces will heat your home more quickly than electric furnaces, and they are more reliable in cold climates.
- Gas furnaces also tend to cost less to run month-to-month.
- Electric furnaces are simple machines that do not need to burn fuel to operate.
- Electric furnaces do not release harmful pollutants into the air, making them inherently safer.
Repair Complexity
Gas furnaces are more mechanically complex than electric furnaces, so they can be more time-consuming and difficult to repair.
Does Furnace Type Affect Heater Repair?
Gas and electric furnaces are mechanically dissimilar, so they have different repair considerations.
Both gas and electric furnaces need regular maintenance and annual safety inspections. Gas furnaces may also require more frequent service and be more expensive to fix due to their complexity.
If you have an electric furnace, repairs should be infrequent unless you live in an extremely cold climate. Maintenance and repair costs for electric furnaces tend to be lower since they are simpler machines with no combustion system.
Accurately identifying the type of furnace issues you have is key to getting it repaired properly. Misdiagnosing a problem can lead to safety hazards like carbon monoxide (CO) leaks and gas leaks that could lead to poisoning, fire, or explosions.
Improper wiring or component installation could cause shocks or electrical fires. A good repair will identify and solve the actual problem safely and prevent the issue from recurring.
When to Call a Professional to Identify or Repair Your Furnace
- If the furnace’s labels are missing or your system is older, a professional can make an accurate identification.
- If you smell gas or hear unusual noises, you could have a dangerous malfunction that needs immediate expert attention.
- If the system is not heating properly, have a professional diagnose the issue and make the appropriate repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are most furnaces gas or electric?
In the colder Midwestern and Northeastern regions of the U.S., most residential furnaces run on natural gas, because fuel is readily available at a low cost. Electric furnaces are more common in milder Southern and Southwestern climates and areas where gas is less available.
Is a gas furnace better than an electric furnace?
The “best” furnace for you depends on your needs and preferences. If you live in a cold climate where natural gas is readily available, need a reliable source of powerful heat, and have access to qualified service technicians, a gas furnace may be the right choice.
If you live in a warmer climate or need a furnace with lower up-front installation costs and fewer safety risks, you may be better off with an electric furnace.
Can a home have both a gas and electric furnace?
Yes, a home can have a dual-fuel (or hybrid) heating system, which uses an electric heat pump in milder weather and automatically switches to a gas furnace when the temperature drops.
Some homeowners will install separate systems in different zones of their homes or install two systems and use one as a backup.
Is it dangerous to check my furnace type myself?
In most cases, you can safely identify a gas or electric furnace by looking for a vent, flue, gas line, or pilot light without opening a panel. If you can’t identify your furnace without taking the machine apart, it’s a good idea to call a pro to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide or gas leaks, fire, or electric shock.
Does furnace type affect repair costs?
Gas furnaces are typically more expensive to repair than electric furnaces due to their complexity, safety risks, and the cost of their internal components.
Call One Hour for Heater Repair in Niceville, FL
Whether you have a gas or electric furnace, proper care is essential to keeping your home safe and comfortable. For professional furnace identification and safe repairs, call Niceville One Hour.
Our expert technicians provide the fast, reliable local heater repair services you need to enjoy a cozy home all winter. We’re always on time, or you don’t pay a dime, so schedule your appointment today!