Greater Austin Area Electrical Heating Installation Services

Travis County: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, TX

Currently, 14% of U.S. single-family homes use electric resistance heat to heat their homes: almost 11% have an electric central forced- air furnace, and more than 3% use some form of electric space heating. An additional 10% use heat pumps, which will be described in the next section.

Electric Central Furnaces

Electric forced-air furnaces distribute heat with an air handler and ducts, just like gas furnaces. The AFUE rating for an all-electric furnace is 95% to 100%. This is because electric furnaces provide heat through resistance, not combustion, so there are no heat losses up the chimney. All of the electricity is converted to heat, minus a small amount of heat loss through the air handler cabinet. This AFUE rating does not include any heat losses through leaky or uninsulated ducts. However, although it varies based on local utility rates, electricity is still one of the most expensive heating fuels.

If you have an electric furnace and your duct system is good, consider switching to a high-performance air-source heat pump. Electricity savings can be 30% or more when compared with electric resistance heating.

Room Heaters

Room heating here refers to heating systems that heat one room or area of a home, unlike central systems, which distribute heat throughout the entire house via ducts or piping. Electricity is the most common fuel type for room heaters, but there are other fuel types as well.

Unvented combustion space heaters, which can release dangerous combustion gases into the home, are illegal in some states and should not be used. The use of portable space heaters is also not recommended because of their inefficiency and potential burn and tripping hazards.

In an average- or large-sized home with minimal or average insulation, electric resistance room heaters (baseboard or wall- mounted) are not typically a cost-effective method for heating the whole house over the long term. In a very well-insulated and air sealed home that requires little heating, they can be a cost- effective choice. They can also be a cost-effective choice for heating infrequently used rooms when the main living areas are heated with ductless heat pumps or radiant floor heat.