Which is better Gas Heat or Electric Heat Pump In Ohio?
Question:I'm building a new home in Ohio. When it came down to choosing gas or electric heat I chose electric, because I thought that with gas prices on the rise the cost would be less or around the same. I also wanted to keep everything on one bill and do level billing to budget better. Plus it was 4000 to hook up the house for gas. I'm now wondering if I made a mistake.
Answers:
There are ways to check the cost of heating a home with gas vs heating a home with electricity in your area. You can check with the local utility to get those costs. As for electric heat pumps, you will not feel as warm as you would with gas heat because heat pumps just do not heat the same way a gas furnace heats. When the others who said you should have chosen gas because you could still heat your home if the electricity goes out.well, we have ALWAYS heated with gas and I'll tell you what...if your electricity goes off, your gas heat does not work BECAUSE it has to have POWER (electricity) to run the furnace itself. The furnace doesn't work without electricity to force the heat through the house!! You can, however, heat your home with a gas fireplace providing you're able to light the fireplace without an electronic ignition (you use matches)...just as you would your gas cook top if you want to cook. So, there are advantages to having natural gas available but as for the heating, you still have to have electricity to heat your home whether you use electricity or gas as fuel. The main thing you will notice, if the cost of using either is the same, is how warm you feel (or in your case, do NOT feel) with the heat from a heat pump. That's the main difference besides possible cost differences.
It depends on where you live in Ohio. Electric rates in the NW Ohio area are excessive, among the highest in the State and even the nation.
I installed a heat pump in July 2006. The utility company cut my rate per killowatt hour from 11 cents per down to 6.5 Cents. the heat pump works fine and I have it set to runanywhere from 34 degrees on up. When the temperature drops below that figure, my gas furnace kicks on.
no,you made the right decision,because if your power ever goes out during a storm during the winter your gas heat will still work if you don't have power
I live in Missouri out in the boon docks. We use gas for everything. At least when the electicity goes out we still have can have heat, hot showers amd hot meals. We use a wood stove to save on the gas bill. But it is extra work but the exercise is great and the family outing of cutting firewood having hot chocolate and watching the wild animals is priceless for the kids. Not to mention the wood heat when the windchill is 20 below.
i would get a generator incase ur power ever goes out, you should of gone with gas!!
Gas is better for the environment, is more efficient, and in my personal opinion provides a warmer more natural feeling heat. You made a good choice.
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