August 15, 2024
Over the last few years, speculation has circulated about whether gas furnaces are being phased out. Some government action, both state and federal, has caused the rumors to swirl throughout the country. This article will explain why there’s some fuss about them and whether you have to plan for a gas furnace ban in Missouri.
What’s the Fuss About Gas Furnaces?
Gas furnaces have received increasing attention from politicians and regulatory agencies. The main focus is moving homes toward more efficient heating options. This controversy boils down to environmental and safety concerns versus heating efficiency and operational costs.
Environmental Concerns
The first thing that usually comes up when discussing gas furnaces is their environmental impact. Every home burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide, one of the primary greenhouse gases. However, it’s not just the burning of natural gas that’s of concern, but also its extraction and processing. By eliminating gas furnaces, many with political power believe they can reduce the overall carbon footprint of homes in the country.
Safety Concerns
It’s not a prominent part of the public conversation, but gas furnaces have safety concerns. The obvious problem is the use of combustible gas in homes. However, there’s also the concern of carbon monoxide exposure if the system isn’t properly maintained and sustains a crack in the heat exchanger. Proper installation and routine maintenance help to mitigate these risks, but neglected systems are a risk. Additionally, aging systems become more susceptible to these safety concerns, so systems over 15 years old present a higher risk than newer systems.
Efficiency and Operational Costs
Efficiency is a critical factor when evaluating heating systems. Higher efficiency means a system uses less fuel or energy to produce the same amount of heat, reducing operational costs and environmental impact. However, it’s essential to consider the differences in efficiency and operational costs between various heating systems.
For instance, heat pumps and gas furnaces operate on different principles. Most residential heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air into the home, while gas furnaces burn fuel to generate heat. Because heat pumps transfer heat rather than create it, they can be more efficient in terms of energy usage. However, despite their superior efficiency, heat pumps often have higher operational costs than gas furnaces due to the cost of electricity, which is generally more expensive than natural gas. This is especially true in regions where natural gas is cheaper because it is readily available. Heat pump performance can also decrease in extremely cold temperatures and require a supplemental heating source, further increasing operational costs.
High-Efficiency Gas Furnaces and Electric Alternatives
If there’s a push toward greater efficiency or to move away from traditional gas furnaces specifically, it’s important to understand the alternatives. These include high-efficiency gas furnaces, air-sourced heat pumps, electric furnaces, and geothermal systems.
High-Efficiency Furnaces
Standard gas furnaces typically have an efficiency rating of about 80%, meaning that 20% of the heat they produce is lost through the exhaust. In contrast, high-efficiency furnaces can achieve up to 95% or higher efficiency ratings.
High-efficiency furnaces achieve these impressive efficiency levels through several innovations. They use multiple heat exchangers to extract more heat from the combustion process. Additionally, high-efficiency furnaces often feature variable-capacity burners and variable-speed circulating fans. These components allow the furnace to adjust its output more precisely to match a home’s heating needs.
As the debate continues about phasing out gas furnaces, government mandates about minimum efficiency levels will likely become essential to the discussion. Rather than banning this type of heating system, the compromise will likely require manufacturers to meet stricter efficiency standards to minimize environmental impact.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are a variety of electric heating that use refrigerant to absorb heat from the air outside and discharge it to the air inside. Efficiency for heat pumps is measured using HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, which is a ratio that compares the total heating output to the energy the system consumes. It’s possible for high-efficiency heat pumps to achieve 300% to 400% more heating output than the energy they consume. They take up about the same amount of room as a central air conditioner, so they are a good option for everything from tight urban settings to more spacious rural lots. Further, they double as the air conditioning, so they eliminate the need for two different units.
Electric Furnaces
Aside from heat pumps, electric furnaces are an option for central systems. Rather than burning fuel to produce heat, electric furnaces rely on resistance coils. When electricity passes through these coils, they meet high electrical resistance, which causes the coil to heat up. This is the same premise as the heating coils on a stove. While most electric furnaces achieve 100% efficiency, they use more energy than heat pumps.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Geothermal heat pumps use refrigerant coils buried underground to transfer heat. Geothermal heat pumps provide more efficient and consistent heating and cooling than air-souced heat pumps because they do not depend on the ambient outdoor air temperature to operate. The trade-off is that they are vastly more expensive to install because of the excavation work to bury the refrigerant lines.
What’s Spurring the Rumor?
Most rumors have some basis in fact. The rumors of a national gas furnace ban stem from several factors driving the discussion.
Possible California Gas Furnace Ban
The largest source of the rumors is what’s happening in California. In 2022, the California Air Resources Board proposed a rule to ban gas furnaces and water heaters by 2030. This means that by 2030, manufacturers will be prohibited from selling new gas furnaces or water heaters within the state. However, this is a proposed rule, not something that has been finalized. Rather, it is scheduled to be considered and voted on in 2025, with implementation no sooner than 2030.
Federal Government Proposals and Incentives
The federal government may be moving in this direction as well. The Department of Energy proposed a rule in 2022 that would require all new furnaces to meet high-efficiency standards of a minimum 95% AFUE. This rule is still proposed and has yet to be approved. If passed, it would not take effect until 2029 at the earliest.
Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act included several incentives for updating older HVAC systems to higher-efficiency models. Most of these incentives focus on heat pumps and geothermal systems, leading some to speculate that the government might be considering a ban on gas furnaces. However, federal and local incentives are still available for upgrading to high-efficiency gas furnaces, indicating that they remain a viable choice for homeowners.
Your Local Cooling and Heating Pros
At Scott-Lee Heating Company, we have served the residents of St. Louis, MO, and the surrounding areas since 1978. We install, maintain, and repair heating and cooling systems, including heat pumps and high-efficiency gas furnaces. We also provide indoor air quality services and offer maintenance agreements. If you are considering upgrading your HVAC system, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced team members.