There’s nothing like stepping into a warm, heated home after being outside on a Canadian winter day. But, until your central heating system suddenly cuts out in the middle of a blizzard, it’s an integral part of the home that often goes overlooked.
And while our Lower Mainland winters are more agreeable than that of our northern neighbours, the last place you want to be this winter is stuck at home without heat. From gas furnaces to boilers, there are numerous options on the market for Canadian homeowners, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
If your central heating system is ready for an upgrade or you’re considering alternative options, here are the pros and cons of each system.
- Gas Furnace
Nearly two-thirds of Canadian households have a forced-air furnace. In Western Canada, half of those furnaces are gas-powered. Your gas furnace system creates warmth by burning fuel to heat the heat exchanger. The blower then moves the heated air through the ductwork and into your house while the byproducts are released through the flue.
Pros
- Reliably heats all areas of your house in the winter and easy to control with a thermostat
- Filter dust and allergens from the air in your home
- Less expensive and more environmentally friendly to operate with increasingly efficient units on the market
Cons
- Higher price tag than electric furnaces and both require ductwork that takes up considerable room in your walls
- Without proper maintenance, furnaces can spread allergens and dust
- Electric Furnace
Much like a gas furnace, an electric furnace is a forced-air system that moves heated air throughout your home. An electric furnace passes air over heated coils as opposed to the combustion system of a gas furnace.
Pros
- Typically more affordable than gas furnaces
- Tend to last longer as they don’t require combustion to generate heat
Cons
- Higher utility bills than other types of central heating with the added cost of electricity
- Heat Pump
It may sound counterintuitive, but heat pumps keep you warm using the cold outside air. These small, wall-mounted units extract heat from the air and transfer it inside your home.
Pros
- Heat pumps use less energy and act as a green central heating alternative; unlike furnaces, heat pumps simply move heat from one location to another
- Heat pumps are easier and cheaper to install without the need for ductwork or piping in the walls
- Quieter fans lead to improved comfort in small spaces
- Heat pumps also act as AC units in the summer by pushing warm air outside
Cons
- Unless you have one in every room of your house, the heat pump’s smaller stature means they can’t heat a large space as well as a furnace or boiler
- In the winter, heat pumps can freeze. The system is built with this in mind and runs a periodic defrost cycle; however, you are left without heat while your heat pump defrosts
- Boiler
A less common residential central heating solution, boilers carry hot water through a system of pipes to reach radiators and floor heating grids in your home. As the hot water navigates the plumbing lines, it radiates heat throughout your home. The central boiler can be powered by natural gas, propane, or electricity.
Pros
- More energy-efficient than furnaces as the water retains its heat as it passes through the plumbing lines
- Boilers provide more options for heating specific rooms than a furnace with the addition of radiators and in-floor heating
- FortisBC has rebates available for select upgrades from a natural gas boiler to eligible Energy Star boilers
Cons
- Installation can be more costly if the plumbing lines don’t already exist in your home
- Can be difficult to access if a pipe bursts or requires maintenance
Is your furnace ready for an upgrade? Are you considering alternative central heating options? Our plumbing and HVAC technicians can help you select the best central heating solution for your home and lifestyle. Reach out to us by phone at 1-866-918-241 or contact us online.