Having sufficient heating throughout your home is essential. Still, there are several different ways you can achieve this. Both space heaters and furnaces can be an effective source of heat, but is one option is better than the other? To answer this, it is important to look at the amount of energy they use and how much heat they provide.
Comparing Energy Usage and Costs
Furnaces are much more energy-efficient than space heaters. A furnace with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 80, the minimum rating required by law, will usually be more than sufficient to heat an entire house without needing space heaters or any other supplemental heat source. The EPA estimates that heating an entire house using space heaters will cost approximately 43% more than it would to heat the same space with a gas furnace.
When Does a Space Heater Make More Sense?
While furnaces are more efficient, this doesn’t mean that space heaters are completely useless. Attempting to heat an entire house with electric space heaters or running multiple heaters at once instead of turning up your furnace almost never makes sense. Let’s say you’re simply looking to keep your bedroom warmer at night. In this situation, it might be more economical to use a space heater for that instead of running your furnace and heating the entire house.
Space heaters can also be a good way to provide additional heat to a room in your home that always stays cold. However, if you end up having to run the space heater constantly, it still usually makes sense to choose a different option, such as adding additional vents to the room or installing a ductless mini-split system.
If you have questions about your home’s heating system, the knowledgeable staff at Air Giant Heating & Air Conditioning would be glad to help. We are in Lorien, LA and provide professional heating services in Sabine, Many, Vernon, and other surrounding communities. Our experienced HVAC technicians also work on all makes and models of cooling systems and have the knowledge and skills to ensure your home stays cool and comfortable. Call us today if you have questions or want to schedule an appointment.
