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Save Your Money: The Cheapest Method of Heating Your Home

When it comes to heating your home, one consideration is how much it will cost to run the system. Consider the different options for heating your home and which will cost the least this winter.

Gas Furnaces

Gas furnaces are the standard method of heating installed in most homes around Lincoln. The cost to run a gas furnace is dependent on its rated efficiency, measured in AFUE or annual fuel utilization efficiency. This evaluates how much heat the system loses through its exhaust compared to how much it produces. The highest-efficiency gas furnaces are rated at about 98%.

Electric Furnaces

Electric furnaces use electrical resistance to create heat. These use the same AFUE rating system, and since they don’t create exhaust, they have a 100% rating. However, electricity is generally more expensive than natural gas, making electric furnaces much more expensive to operate than gas furnaces.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are a little different than furnaces in that they transfer heat rather than create heat. The rating for these units is the heating seasonal performance factor, or HSPF. It compares how much heat the unit transfers into your home versus how much electricity it consumes. The highest-efficiency heat pumps have a 14 HSPF rating, meaning they transfer 14 times more heat than the power they consume. The challenge is that the efficiency will fall once temperatures drop below freezing.

Dual-Fuel Options

Every heat pump has a backup heater in case the temperature gets too low, which is an electric resistance heater by default. Given the fact there are a couple of months where heat pumps may not work efficiently, running an electric heater can get quite costly. Dual-fuel systems have a heat pump with a backup gas furnace. This gives you a highly efficient heat pump during moderate temperatures and a lower-cost gas furnace for the frigid weather.

Property owners of all kinds have turned to Wellmann Heating & Air, Inc to keep their Lincoln area buildings comfortable since 1984. Our team of NATE-certified technicians provides AC and heating installation, maintenance, and repair services. We also provide geothermal systems as well as indoor air quality solutions. Call to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our expert installation technicians.