Is A Gas Fireplace Cheaper Than Electric Heat

Information from the executive office of energy and environmental affairs about last winter s projected home heating costs shows lower costs were expected for electric heating rather than natural gas.

Is a gas fireplace cheaper than electric heat.

Some may be convinced that gas is the cheaper alternative while others think that electricity is the cheaper option. You can t compare efficiency between electric and gas fireplaces without stating the heat output of each fireplace you re comparing. Gas furnaces are not always more efficient than heat pumps however. However for a gas fireplace the actual amount of heat can be measured because it delivers heat directly into your home.

This and the cheaper cost of natural gas make gas heat a better option for colder climates. The actual amount of heat that gets to you can t be measured by a manufacturer for a gas furnace system because it is different for every house depending on factors like amount of ductwork and the house s insulation. Gas is cheaper than electricity in most cases which makes furnaces more cost effective than electric heat pumps in areas that experience colder temperatures. Throwing out the wacky utility markets of ak and ca the 9 states with lower gas than electricity heating costs had only a 6 7 average advantage in fuel costs.

Only 11 states appear to have gas cheaper than electricity using 82 ng furnace and 250 ductless heat pump. Warmth another point where electric heat and propane differ dramatically is the warmth that they offer. Another advantage is the ability to turn the stove or fireplace s burners down and sip gas to keep the temperature. A 20 000 btu gas fireplace will cost more than any electric fireplace to run for one hour but the gas one will heat up a 900 sq ft space in an hour while the electric one may not heat more than 200 sq ft.

Myth 4 gas furnaces are always more efficient than heat pumps. When it comes to energy efficiency you may find a wide range depending on size and model. But what do the numbers say. Ground source heat pump possibly air source heat pump average cop of 2 2 5 in uk costing more than gas and lastly i would personally rather spend 5000 installing a good gas central heating system than 16000 25000 for a ground source heat pump system offering similar returns in cost.

Gas fireplaces use between 7 000 and 16 000 btus are between 70 and 90 efficient at converting energy to heat and cost around 60 a year to run. Additionally a gas furnace will heat the home faster because the heat produced is hotter than the heat produced by electric coils.