All About Propane Appliances: Furnaces

In the wonderful world of appliances, figuring out the best option for your home isn’t an easy task. Let’s face it: we’re not comparing apples to apples here. And when you’re looking into something as important as your home’s heating system, there’s no room for error. 

 

We’ve put an end to the guessing game for good with our full-blown heating system comparison. Find out exactly how propane furnaces stack up against the competition below!

Propane heating systems offer lower energy costs and produce fewer CO₂ emissions compared to heating oil systems. In fact, investing in a high efficiency propane furnace will reduce your average annual energy costs by 17% and produce 30% fewer CO₂ emissions. Don’t believe me? See the numbers for yourself below!

Table 1: Propane Savings in New & Existing Homes

And if that’s not enough, propane offers more flexibility as it offers exceptional performance in water heating, cooking, clothes drying, fireplaces and even backup power generators!

 

When it comes to propane vs. electric, there’s really no comparison. Not only do propane furnaces last longer than electric heat pumps, but they also offer warmer and more consistent heat. Studies show that electric heat pumps provide less than comfortable heat levels 60% of the time due to dropping outdoor temperatures. Propane furnaces, on the other hand, consistently delivers heat between 120°F and 140°F regardless of the temperature outside. 

 

When you heat with propane, you’re also reducing your household’s carbon footprint! Since electricity is often generated by power plants using coal, heating your home with propane will save an average of 4,600 pounds of CO₂ emissions per year. That means you’ll prevent the burning of 33,617 pounds of coal over a 15-year life cycle by heating your home with a propane furnace instead of an electric heat pump.

 

Geothermal heat sounds like a great idea in theory; however, the reality is that geothermal heat doesn’t live up to expectations. Geothermal heat pumps utilize the heat from the ground to heat your home, which is why these systems typically deliver heat in the 90°F-120°F range. Propane furnaces, on the other hand, consistently deliver heat in the 120°F-140°F range, providing more comfortable and more reliable warmth. 

 

Since geothermal heat pumps are reliant on outdoor conditions, these systems are often paired with an electric resistance heat system to fill in the comfort gap during extreme cold weather conditions. This results in a drastic increase in monthly energy costs as well as an increase in carbon footprint, which negates the primary benefits of a geothermal system. 

 

Most importantly, research shows that geothermal systems have the highest installation cost of any heating system. In contrast, studies also confirm that a high-efficiency propane furnace is the most affordable heating system to purchase and install.