i am getting new heating/cooling for my house. What should I get?

Lori Jackson
by Lori Jackson
Should I go with gas or electric? Make your case so we can make up our minds.
  13 answers
  • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Oct 31, 2014
    bathroom
  • Donna Donna on Nov 01, 2014
    We have gas heat and electric cooling. Absolutely love the warm feeling in winter and it's cheaper than electricity. Just remember to buy a humidifier to run in winter as the air gets dry. If you keep it a little humid in the house you'll be sick less often. Electric heat dries you out too. The added bennies of gas is you can heat your water with it too. Way cheaper than electricity and your water heater lasts a lot longer.
  • Kimberly A Kimberly A on Nov 01, 2014
    I know you did not mention this option, however we have installed a geothermal HVAC system and with a 6,000 sq ft house my electric bill is still never higher than about $180 per month. The initial installation cost is a lot but we save hundreds per month. If this is not an option for you then gas is great as well. We installed that in Previous homes.
  • Pete Wells Pete Wells on Nov 01, 2014
    With gas, you can have a backup heating system that will operate when the power is down..and gas equipment has a longer lifespan than comparable electric..Total-electric? Just say NO...
    • See 2 previous
    • Pete Wells Pete Wells on Nov 02, 2014
      I put in a new gaspack H&A unit at the same time a neighbor in an identical house installed a new heat pump..my ductwork is under the floor, theirs is in the attic...my heating costs the first winter were about half theirs...and I haven't been able to compare since then because their power got shut off...
  • Sherrie Slaboda Sherrie Slaboda on Nov 01, 2014
    @Lori Jackson Whoops, I don't know what happened to my answer. I have a whole house solar system. Nothing beats solar in savings.
  • Judy Judy on Nov 01, 2014
    Depends on the cost of each in your area. What works well in AZ will not necessarily work well in FL or NH. Here in S Or. a heat pump costs less than gas. Solar is wonderful if your house gets enough sunlight. We have electric with wood back up when it gets really cold in the winter or the power goes out.
  • Becca Becca on Nov 01, 2014
    If you are in a cold area, gas heat does much better than electric. When it's really cold the electric will have to run a lot more to keep it warm.
  • Lori Jackson Lori Jackson on Nov 01, 2014
    Solar is not an option--we are surrounded by trees. We like trees...and I should have mentioned, the house is 100 years old, well insulated with mostly new windows/doors. Currently have gas, but really old and not big enough for the house. Same with ac. Gas is running out in front in the decision-making process.
  • Sherrie Slaboda Sherrie Slaboda on Nov 02, 2014
    I agree that you must have a lot of sun to make a Solar install worthwhile. One thing we have in Florida is a lot of sun.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Nov 02, 2014
    Have a 100 year old home, too - without all your insulation! Heard the geothermal systems are great. I have a gas-fired steam boiler system. If I had electric, I'd have to remortgage!
  • Sandy Iverson Sandy Iverson on Nov 06, 2014
    I'VE HAD BOTH AND WOULD NEVER CONSIDER ANYTHING BUT GAS! IT SEEMS TO BE A WARMER HEAT. ALSO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A GAS RANGE! ALSO, CONSIDER DOING TWO FURNACES. THE ORIGINAL OUTLAY IS $$$ BUT YOU'LL SAVE SO MUCH ON BOTH AIR AND HEAT! I BOUGHT A 100 YEAR OLD THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO AN UP AND DOWN AND SO IT HAD 2 AIR AND HEAT. WOULD NEVER CONSIDER DOING ONE FOR 2 STORY EVER AGAIN. CAN KEEP IT WARMER DOWN AND COOLER UP FOR SLEEPING AND IT'S NOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO RUN. ELECTRIC RUNS AROUND $100 MONTHLY BUDGET AND HIGHEST GAS BILL SINCE NEW FURNACES INSTALLED HAS BEEN $370 AS OPPOSED TO OVER $600 WITH OLD ONES. HAVE 4 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS, DR, LR KITCHEN AND UNFINISHED HEATED BASEMENT.
  • Darla Darla on Nov 17, 2014
    Whatever you do, don't get heating oil! Another choice might be a pellet stove outside the house. A good wood stove inside is really nice on winter days.
  • AvonelleRed AvonelleRed on Nov 17, 2014
    After living most of my life in houses heated by electricity, I recently moved into one heated by gas, and I am not going back to an electric system again if I can help it. Gas furnaces heat the house faster and more evenly.