In this age of increased energy awareness and importance of energy efficiency, many homeowners are choosing to equip their homes with electric heat units. However, the cost of heating your home with electricity instead of other means can increase your overall monthly energy bills dramatically.

Electric heating for your home will convert close to 100% of the electrical energy into heat, but the process of creating the electricity, which typically includes the use of oil or natural gas, only turns about 30% of the energy into electricity. This causes electric heat to be more expensive than using combustion appliances such as a natural gas or propane furnace. Because of this underlying inefficiency, the relationship generally holds true on a long-term basis -- even though fluctuations in utility prices can result in short-term exceptions and even reversals.

Forced Air Electric Furnace

There are many different types of electric heat units that homeowners can use to heat their home. The most common type is the centralized forced air electric furnace. These furnaces heat your home the same way any other centralized forced air unit does, with the only difference being that the air is heated with electricity instead of natural gas or propane. Centralized forced air electric furnaces can be expensive to operate, as the units run almost constantly and a great deal of energy is needed to pump the hot air throughout the entire household.

Zone Electric Heating Units

Homeowners may also choose to use zone electric heating units such as baseboard units or wall heaters to heat their homes. These units typically cost less to operate than other types of electric heaters because they only attempt to heat one area or room at a time. Using zone specific electric heat units can save the homeowner a great deal of money on their monthly utility bill, often up to 20% of their total heating cost.

For instance, when the homeowner goes to bed at night, the only room in the home that requires heat at that time is the bedroom. With a central air system, the whole house would need to be heated to keep the bedroom at a comfortable temperature, while with zone heating, the only room using energy to keep a comfortable temperature would be the bedroom.

Although electric heat can be expensive, it is very effective and, because of its flexibility it can actually be used in ways to keep the cost comparable to other methods. Homes heated with electric heat units can be kept just as comfortable as those heated with combustion units. Whether you're choosing a home and using the type of heating unit as a factor in the decision, or installing new, the choice is yours. Keep in mind though, that the choices you make with the thermostat and controls are just as important in the long run.

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