Need to know which is cheaper: Gas vs. electric heater cost? Our Shreveport heating technicians cover heating costs.
Electricity Vs. Gas Heating Costs
The cost of electricity versus natural gas heating can vary depending on several factors, such as the cost of the energy source in the area, the efficiency of the home heating system, and the amount of energy used. In general, natural gas heating is typically less expensive compared to electric heating.
For natural gas to be less expensive, though, several factors must be considered, like the cost of natural gas being lower than the cost of electricity in the area. The price of natural gas is also determined by supply and demand; maybe the area is limited in access to natural gas. The efficiency of the home’s heating system is also a factor in the electric heating or gas costs. A newer, more efficient electric heating system may save a homeowner money compared to an older natural gas system.
In order to determine the better-priced option for the area in which you live, it’s essential to compare electricity prices to natural gas prices for that area. It’s also important to perform routine maintenance on your home heating system to ensure it works properly and energy efficiently.
Conversion from kWh to BTU
In most scenarios, you will need to convert BTU to kWh, like how many kWH a 10,000 BTU air conditioning unit uses every hour. You’ll need to convert the BTU into kWh to find this out. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and kWh stands for kilowatt hour. The BTU is a unit of heat or cooling that measures the amount of heat or cool energy it takes to heat up or cool 1 pound of water by one degree.
The kWh is a unit of electrical energy and measures the electricity required to run a 1,000 W (1kW) device for 1 hour. One BTU is equal to 0.000293 kWh which means that 3,412 BTU is equal to 1 kWh. To convert kWh from BTU, you must multiply the BTUs by 0.000239.
Is Electric Heating Expensive?
The cost of electricity to heat homes during the 2022-2023 winter season saw a price increase of around 10%. This price increase still puts the cost of natural gas to heat homes lower than electricity. Even though electricity is a more stable form of energy, natural gas is still the largest energy generator throughout the United States which is why electricity costs more. Homes that use oil furnaces or electric furnaces will spend more on their energy bills in comparison to the cold climate heat pump.
Electric heating is not very energy efficient because it requires a lot of energy to heat the home. However, electricity is the cleanest form of energy. Natural gas heating fills the air with pollutants. Now electric heat is more expensive is not always the case. Electricity might be less expensive than natural gas in certain areas, like those with warmer climates.
How Much Does Electric Heat Cost Per Month?
In the United States, homeowners will average around $838 a year in electric heating costs. However, this amount could be more or less depending on where you live. For example, if you live in a warmer climate, your electric heating costs could be less than $300. Colder climates and larger homes with electric heating systems could cost upwards of thousands of dollars.
The majority of homeowners that heat their homes with electric heat have an electric furnace, although there are other electric heating systems options like ductless mini splits or heat pumps. Compared to combustion heating, electricity is superior, using 100% of electricity to produce heat compared to combustion heat systems like heating oil which are only 90% efficient.
Are Natural Gas Heating Systems Expensive?
Natural gas did have an increase during the winter of 2022-2023 of around 28%. Despite the increase, the cost of natural gas heating still remained below that of electric heating. This increase was due to natural gas prices going up and natural gas consumption. The cost of natural gas fluctuates more than electricity because the cost of natural gas is dependent on several factors – what state you live in, the year, and the month.
How Much Does Natural Gas Cost Per Month?
Even though natural gas has increased recently, it’s still the cheaper option to heat your home. Depending on where you live will determine how much your natural gas costs will be monthly. The consensus is that, on average, heating your home can save you thousands compared to using electric heat. The only downside is that gas heating is less efficient than electric. A gas furnace is only 70% to 90% energy efficient.
Is My Heating System Natural Gas or Electric Heat?
In order to determine whether your heating system is natural gas or electric heat, you should be able to look at your heating system or boiler. Gas heaters work by burning fuel, so there should be a visible flame, also known as the pilot light. The flame can be seen through a window on the heating unit. In comparison, electric heaters don’t have a flame or window. Other ways to determine your heating unit type are by checking for gas lines, looking up your heating system online, reading the labels on the heating system, or asking an HVAC tech during a maintenance call.
What is the Cheapest Way to Heat Your Home?
On average, homeowners will pay 63% less when using gas heat than electric heat. While this is currently the case, natural gas costs can be unpredictable with extenuating circumstances like geopolitical issues, supply, and refinery expansions that can affect the price of natural gas in the future. So while it is cheaper to heat your home, that may not always be the case. While it’s not the more affordable option, electric heat is the more stable form of energy and is not affected by any outside factors. A downside to heating your home with the less expensive option is poor air quality. Natural gas is a form of combustion heating, and particles, allergens, and other irritants are released into the air when heating your home with natural gas.
We provide more information on heat pumps vs. furnaces and heat pumps vs. straight cool systems in our other blog post.
Shreveport Heating Systems Experts
Whether you have an electric or natural gas heating system, the experts at Pioneer Comfort Systems can help you with all your heating needs. For over 60 years, we’ve been providing both heating and air conditioning services to Shreveport area residents. Whether it’s time for a routine maintenance check, repair, or new installation, Pioneer Comfort Systems has you covered. Call us today to schedule your heating service appointment at (318) 378-5729.