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Building new house in midwest: natural gas or electric furnace?
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:15 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Gas is 50% cheaper. Any reason not to go gas? I know theres a lot of electric fanbois out there.
I do kind of hate: a) having to plumb a separate system for a furnace, and theres some cost there. How much does set up cost? And b) having a separate bill/utility/point of failure.
But other than that, gas seems like a slam dunk. |
Date: May 5th, 2025 9:16 AM Author: Trump Tariffs Can Do No Wrong (TDNW) gotta do both if you’re in a cold climate (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904659) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:26 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Ty (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904705) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 12:06 PM Author: Traditional Latin ass (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905240) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:19 AM Author: blow off some steam You have this one figured out already. You said it yourself—it’s a slam dunk. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904666) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:26 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Ty. I agree want a sanity check (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904702) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:20 AM Author: novus homo (gunneratttt) just get an a/c that doubles as a heat pump. it's more efficient than gas at higher temperatures and gives you redundant heating systems. you can program thermostats to engage whichever system is best depending on the outside temperature and never think about it again. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904669) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:26 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Where do you live? Is that viable for 3k square foot house where it routi ely goes <0 in winter? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904697) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:31 AM Author: novus homo (gunneratttt) sorry, i meant in addition to a gas furnace.
heat pumps are very efficient at warmer temps but below freezing become very inefficient. they make "low temperature" heat pumps which just add electric coils which are extremely inefficient.
the biggest reason is that the only difference between a heat pump and a/c is which way the refrigerant is flowing, so you essentially already have a heat pump with an a/c system, all they have to add is a valve that can reverse the flow and a system to control it. so if you're getting a/c you might as well spend a little bit to get one that doubles as a heat pump so you're not running the furnace when its' 35-60 and you've got redundant heating systems. |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:46 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Thanks, and yes i get the concept and know of many heat pump fanbois.
I like the redundancy. Knowing how expensive ac is, is it really more cost effective than just blasting your cheap natgas furnace when its 45 out? Would love to know more.
I also plan to have a woodburning masonry furnace in basement as an additional redundant heating system, and to take the sting out of heating bills. I will have a lot of wood. |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:53 AM Author: novus homo (gunneratttt) biomass is 180. many wood furnaces even qualify for energy efficient tax credits.
there are so many variables with hvac. your location, cost of fuel, your houses soze, how well its insulated, etc. |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:33 AM Author: Ass Sunstein Gas, so you can have a gas stove and gas dryer too. Huge perk and dumb not to do it if you are in an area where gas is available. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904724) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:49 AM Author: lfo ti,oc,tcr (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904750) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 11:03 AM Author: peeface (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905022) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:33 AM Author: animeboi (.) Going electric-only in the midwest is insane, as are the shitlibs in Evanston, IL who banned gas in all new construction. It gets too cold.
Also gas stoves are 180. |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:34 AM Author: RETARD PATROL Sounds like you lost before you started (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904729) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:47 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Why? Brcause i live in the midwest? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904748) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:56 AM Author: internet g0y why are you not just buying a home (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904768) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 9:58 AM Author: Senior Ethics Official Most homes suck. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48904775) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 10:54 AM Author: OldHLSDude I have geothermal heat pumps. They are great, though more expensive to buy and install, but somewhat offset by tax credits (30% Federal, plus some states). DO NOT use electric resistance heating - though cheaper to install, costs 4-5x as much to run as geothermal. Air interface heat pumps are also problematic in cold weather. Natural gas is very good if it's available. In our non-development rural location the closest gas line is about 1.5 miles away. You can also use propane, of course, if natural gas is not available.
The geothermals (which is really a misnomer - they are technically ground sink/source heat pumps)cost very little to run in AC mode (their EER is about 30), and generate about 4-5x as much energy as they use when in heating mode. Our house is 4670 sq ft plus 4000 sq ft basement and well insulated.
One possible disadvantage of any electric heating system is that if you live in an area with frequent power outages and want to have a backup generator to cover the electric heating load it will get huge and expensive. I use a wood stove and bottled propane gas logs for backup heat, though have never needed it.
I have two of these: https://www.waterfurnace.com/residential/products/geothermal-heat-pumps/500a11
Since there's no combustion they are very safe. You can throw away your CO detector.
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Date: May 5th, 2025 12:28 PM Author: Senior Ethics Official Interesting. How comapres to nat gas? Assume natgas hookup already at the street. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905324) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 12:36 PM Author: OldHLSDude Depends on electricity vs. gas rates in your area. Geothermal costs more to buy and install than a furnace and a/c. It will also require either a lot of land for a horizontal underground heat exchange loop (mine runs out about 275 feet from the house), or room for multiple vertical wells. That makes it troublesome if you live ina dense residential area. Horizontal loops are cheaper. Here's the main WaterFurnace web site. It has some kind of cost calculator feature. Several companies make these. WF is in Indiana and has been good IME. https://www.waterfurnace.com/reliable?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Hawk_Search_BD_Phrase/Exact_Branded-Leads&utm_term=water%20furnace&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjww-HABhCGARIsALLO6Xzt8QTzSxindq9khlal0XOycWN2xdjNc-1pyeo3fPe89StS8Q8SVCUaAu_qEALw_wcB (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905359) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 11:04 AM Author: butt cheeks (✅🍑) gas every time (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905023) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 12:29 PM Author: curb stomp dave portnoy to death (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905330) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 12:29 PM Author: curb stomp dave portnoy to death always gas whenever it's an option (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905329) |
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Date: May 5th, 2025 1:29 PM Author: Metal Up Your Ass gas yourself (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720579&forum_id=2:#48905541) |