When it is time for a new furnace, the fuel type shapes both the upfront cost and what you pay every month for years. Here is how gas and electric furnaces compare for a BC home, and where a heat pump fits in.
How each one heats
A gas furnace burns natural gas to create heat, then sends warm air through your ducts. An electric furnace passes air over heating elements, much like a giant version of an electric heater. Both deliver forced-air heat, but they get there in very different ways.
Running cost in BC
The monthly cost comes down to local energy prices. Where natural gas is inexpensive relative to electricity, a gas furnace often costs less to run. Electric furnaces avoid combustion entirely but can be expensive to operate as the sole heat source, because resistance heat uses a lot of electricity.
Upfront cost and installation
Electric furnaces are typically simpler and cheaper to install, with no gas line, venting or combustion air to manage. Gas furnaces cost more to install because of those requirements, but they are paired with the lower running cost in many BC homes.
Comfort and safety differences
Gas furnaces tend to produce very warm air and heat a space quickly. Because they burn fuel, they require proper venting and periodic safety checks for things like carbon monoxide. Electric furnaces have no combustion, so they sidestep those particular concerns, though they still need regular maintenance.
Why a heat pump is the third option
For homes leaning electric, a heat pump is dramatically more efficient than an electric furnace, because it moves heat rather than generating it from resistance. It also cools in summer and can qualify for rebates. Many BC homeowners now compare a heat pump against both furnace types, sometimes pairing it with a furnace as backup for the coldest days.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gas or electric furnace cheaper to run?
It depends on local gas and electricity prices. Where gas is inexpensive relative to electricity, a gas furnace often costs less to operate, while an all-electric resistance furnace can be costly as the sole heat source.
Is an electric furnace efficient?
An electric furnace converts nearly all of its electricity into heat, but a heat pump is far more efficient because it moves heat instead of generating it, so it delivers much more warmth per unit of electricity.
Should I consider a heat pump instead of a furnace?
Often yes, especially for electric homes. A heat pump is far more efficient than resistance heat, cools in summer too, and can qualify for rebates a furnace usually cannot.
Talk to a Metro Vancouver HVAC expert
Straight answers and a free, no-pressure estimate for your home.
Related services & guides