How cold are the winters in Toronto? The answers could range anything from cold to insanely cold, depending on whom you are asking. Temperature drops in the winter season there can go as low as -30 degrees Celsius or lower, so how cold would you say they are?

It is safe to say you need a pretty efficient furnace to keep your house warm during that time, isn’t it? But which one is more efficient, the gas or electric furnace? The answer depends on many factors including the cost of each.

Let’s look at some factors that influence the efficiency of these two furnaces, then you will decide which one is most efficient in Toronto’s cold weather.

The cost of gas vs electric furnace

An electric furnace is cheaper than gas furnace in Toronto, it is also much cheaper to install. Being that as it may, you should know that it will cost you more to operate compared to the gas one. This means that your electric bill will never be the same again.

Contrary to that, a gas furnace, including installation, will cost you more than the electric one. But you will see that over time you will spend less to operate it. It uses natural gas; natural gas is significantly cheaper than electricity.

Is eclectic furnace safer than gas furnace?

In terms of safety, it all depends on what you already have in your home. If you will have to do additional upgrades to accommodate the furnace, then you may want to consider the electric one.

A gas furnace releases small amounts of carbon monoxide into the surroundings. This is the same gas that comes out of your car exhaust when you turn the engine on.

This means that your home should be equipped with smoke/carbon dioxide detectors in order to maintain the level of gas in the house. If they are not installed, it is clearly unsafe to run a gas furnace in your home.

Does gas furnace generate more heat comparing to electric furnace?

This is the reason why we want furnaces, isn’t it? So, which one is more efficient in keeping our homes warm?

The gas furnace is able to reach much higher temperatures than the electric one. It also takes less time to heat the house. So, you will use less energy in every session, which will cost even less. Not only that; this minimal use of the system will have a good impact on its lifespan.

On average, the electric furnace lasts longer because they are easy to maintain. So if you choose the electric system, you are looking at up to 30 years of reliability. The gas system on the other hand can manage to last as long as 20 years. However, you can have it for longer; if you use it less you won’t have to make many repairs to it, right?

There are many more factors to consider when you want to find the right furnace for your home. Currently there is furnace rebate program in Ontario, which let you get the best furnace prices, Others include the installation of additional components such as natural gas lines or electric usage warning systems. There is no straight answer to which furnace is more efficient. It all depends on what your needs are.

Author's Bio: 

Author, Freelance writer