We think a lot about our heat in the winter, but usually it is revolving around turning up the thermostat to beat those chilly days. However, there are a few times when you might need to know a little more about the hot air coming out of your vents. How can you tell if your home heat is powered by gas or an electric heat source? And when would you need this information?
The Quick Answer
Look at your furnace. A gas furnace has a gas pipe running to it, a vent pipe that carries exhaust outside, and a small window or panel where you can see a blue flame while it runs. An electric furnace has none of these. It runs on a dedicated electrical circuit from your panel, and it runs quieter.
What is a Forced Air Heating System?
A forced air heating system, where the heat comes out of vents in the home, is one of the most common heating systems. While you may see radiators or baseboard heaters in some older homes, most homes these days have a forced air heating system. Both gas heaters and electric heaters work in similar ways. Both systems use a fan to force air through a chamber or device that heats the air, which is then pushed through air ducts into different rooms in your home.
Difference Between a Gas Furnace and an Electric Furnace
A gas system pushes the forced air through a heat exchanger, while an electric system heats the air in a heating element. The two systems are also set up differently. A gas furnace has a gas supply line, usually metal pipe with a shutoff valve, and a vent pipe that carries exhaust outside. An electric furnace has no gas line and no vent. It runs on a dedicated circuit, connected with heavy-gauge wiring that is often run in flexible metal conduit.
How to Tell if Your Heater is Gas or Electric
The first step in determining if your heater is gas or electric is to first ensure you have a forced-air heating system. If you have vents and ducts in your home that push out warm air, then you do indeed have a forced-air system! If your home has baseboard heaters, a boiler with radiators, or ductless mini-splits, your system does not use ducts, and the steps below do not apply. Boilers can run on gas or electricity too. The same clues apply: a gas line and a vent pipe mean gas.
If you do have forced air, the next step to determine if the system is gas or electric is to turn up the thermostat and increase the heat temperature. You should hear the air moving through the ducts, feel warm air pushed out through your vents or even hear your heating system making quiet humming noises if you are close to the source.
Next, find the location of your heating unit. This may be in a closet, basement or attic. If you are unsure where your heating unit is located, you could try to follow your home’s ductwork in places where it is exposed, such as a basement or attic. It is always good information to know where your heating unit is located.
The next step is to check out your unit. It may say right on the label if it is gas or electric, so start by reading the labels. If it does not say here, you can usually tell by looking at the front panel. A gas heat exchanger uses a burner to produce heat, so there is usually a small window located on the front of the unit. If you see a small blue flame when looking through that panel, it is a gas heat exchanger. Other styles of gas heating units might have a small metal panel on the front of the system that you can remove to check for a blue flame. Anything with a blue flame is a gas system.
On the other hand, if there is no access window or panel, it is an electric system. Electric systems also make much less noise, another key distinguishing feature. While a gas system uses a burner in a combustion chamber to heat the air, an electric system uses electric coils, in a heating element, that become hot when electricity is running through them, which heats the air.
Other Ways to Tell
- Your utility bills. A natural gas or propane bill that climbs in winter means gas heat.
- Your thermostat. An “Aux Heat” or “Emergency Heat” setting usually means you have a heat pump.
- Your electrical panel. An electric furnace runs on its own dedicated circuit, with a large breaker in the panel.
What If You Have a Heat Pump?
Many homes heat with an electric heat pump. A heat pump has an outdoor unit that runs in winter as well as summer, moving heat into the house instead of making it. Some homes pair a heat pump with a gas furnace as backup, which is called a dual-fuel system. See heat pump or furnace to compare the two.
Why to Know What Kind of System You Have
While it may seem like trivial knowledge, knowing what kind of system you have can ensure you are completing the proper heating maintenance to keep your system running well for a long time, and keep your family warm and happy throughout the winter. Different systems will take different maintenance, including different filters, motor lubrication and blower cleaning. A gas furnace also needs a yearly safety inspection. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a leaking heat exchanger can mix combustion gases with the air in your home. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility from outside.
Gas or Electric Heat FAQ
Is central heating gas or electric?
It can be either. Forced-air central heating comes from a gas furnace, an electric furnace or a heat pump. Use the steps above to tell which one you have.
Is an electric furnace cheaper to run than a gas furnace?
Usually not. The Department of Energy rates all-electric furnaces at 95% to 100% efficiency, but notes that the higher cost of electricity in most parts of the country makes them an uneconomic choice.
Does an electric furnace have a pilot light?
No. Only gas furnaces use a flame. An electric furnace heats air with electric coils.
Basic knowledge about your home and utilities is important for every homeowner. It can save you money, help you properly maintain your home and keep your family healthy and safe. If you have questions about your heating system or if it is time for your annual maintenance, contact the team at Central Heating Cooling Plumbing Electrical today.
