An electric forced air furnace is a single heating unit that supplies heat to the whole house by forcing the volume of air within the house through a system of returning air ducts concealed in wall spaces, attics and crawlspaces.

How It Works

In simple terms the electric forced air furnace works by generating heat through high resistant wires called elements. These elements carry electricity that generates the heat, and that heat is distributed throughout your home by a blower, which blows the air through the elements into the ductwork.

The elements are controlled by a single thermostat which turns the furnace on or off according to the temperature that has been set. When the electric forced air furnace switches on, the elements heat up and the air is forced over the elements and out into the air ducts through to the registers (inlet to rooms).

Registers usually have adjustable louvers to enable the direction of the air flow and the amount. The system switches off automatically when the set temperature is reached.

The air filter of the electric forced air furnace is perhaps the most important maintenance item because if it is clogged the entire system will have to work harder and run longer to deliver the required heat. It is recommended to replace or clean the filter monthly during the heating season and at least every 3 months during the remainder of the year.

Pros

There are some distinct advantages when comparing the electric forced air furnace against natural gas or oil furnace systems:

• It’s compact, quick, reliable and quiet.
• It does not produce any emissions, and does not require a flu or chimney.
• It requires very little maintenance beyond regular servicing.
• In addition, you can purchase one with a cooling coil already installed, so it can be used for cooling as well as heating and you will not require a separate air conditioner.

You will have no more worries about carbon monoxide poisoning or gas leaks in your home.

Cons

An electric forced air furnace also has some disadvantages.

Like both gas and oil furnaces, an electric forced air furnace heats the whole house rather than individual rooms and zones, which can lead to heat being wasted on rooms that are empty. Also an electric furnace can be more expensive to run than a natural gas or oil furnace.

However there are a number of ways you can make an electric forced air furnace system more energy efficient, and save on your electricity bills.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Many heating systems have manual thermostats which you have to set and re-set every time you want to change the temperature setting. It is so easy to forget to change the setting and have your system pumping out heat when you are not at home. A programmable thermostat makes it so much easier to control your heating and save on your energy bills.

Buy the Right Furnace and Have It Installed

An electric forced air furnace that is too small for your home will leave you cool in the winter, while one that is too big will cost more to install ( larger duct work etc ) and to operate, and will add to your electricity bill by having to cycle on and off more often.

Make sure you purchase a furnace that is the right size for your home, and that all the ducting is properly installed. Badly installed ductwork could mean that some rooms are too cold while others are too hot.

Ensure you hire a contractor with the correct accreditation to design and install your electric forced air furnace. Have system inspected and serviced annually.