If your furnace is over 15 years old, you may consider replacing it. Here are some options to consider when investing in heating your home with increased savings:
High Efficiency Gas Furnace – The typical gas heater here in the Sacramento area is around 80% efficient. In dollars; this means that for every $1 you are currently spending with PG&E, 20 cents goes straight out the flue. Only providing you 80 cents in heat. The high efficiency furnaces average around 95% efficiency. Pencil it out and for every $1 you spend with PG&E, you are only losing 5 cents out the flue. That equates to 95 cents of that dollar heating your home. A much higher savings in gas usage.
PRO: Major energy savings, you do not have to replace the air conditioner at the same time.
CON: If you have a combination package heating and cooling system, they aren’t currently available in the higher efficiency heating option.
Dual Fuel Hybrid Heat Pump System – If you are weary to convert completely to heat pump (they are still trying to shed their bad rap from decades ago, we get it) then a hybrid system might be just for you! The outdoor electric heat pump will produce the majority of your heat. If it is really cold, foggy, or you have a big gap between current indoor temperature and desired temp – it can kick over to gas back-up to get your comfortable quickly, defaulting back to electric when the system deems it makes the most sense economically.
PRO: Having gas heat as back up for peace of mind, incentives available.
CON: Still partially reliant on fossil fuel and PG&E.
All Electric Heat Pump System – Converting completely off of gas to an all electric heat pump is the future. Most utilities, states, and even the federal government are pushing to reduce fossil fuel. New and improved technology have made heat pumps much more reliable and better heat sources than decades ago. Unlike the limited resource of fossil fuels; electricity can be generated by cleaner sources like wind, water, and solar.
PRO: If you are a SMUD customer their rates are much more affordable and less volatile than PG&E, incentives available.
CON: We aren’t sure what the current infrastructure of the power grid can handle as more consumers switch to electric heat in the winter months.