Compare
Gas vs Electric Furnace: Which Should You Get?
Our take
Gas furnace if you have natural gas service. Electric only if no gas line and a heat pump isn't viable.
Side by side
| Factor | Gas Furnace | Electric Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront install (mid-tier) | $5,000–$7,500 | $3,000–$4,500 |
| Annual operating cost (2,000 sq ft GTA home) | $1,200–$1,700 | $2,400–$3,000 |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years | 18–25 years |
| Carbon footprint | Higher (combustion) | Lower (Ontario grid is mostly clean) |
| Heat output speed | Fast (3–5 min to full) | Slower (resistance heating ramps gradually) |
Gas Furnace wins when:
- Natural gas line at the property
- Heating-dominant climate (most of Ontario)
Electric Furnace wins when:
- No gas service and gas extension isn't economical
- Mild-climate home with low total heating demand
- Hybrid with a heat pump (electric backup mode)
The full take
For an Ontario home with existing natural gas service, gas wins on operating cost — about half the annual heating bill of electric resistance.
Electric furnaces make sense in three specific cases: 1. No gas service and bringing it in costs $5,000+ (uneconomical) 2. Tiny home or condo with very low total heat demand 3. As the backup element in a heat-pump system — electric strips kick in below -25°C when the heat pump can't keep up
For any other case, a heat pump beats both — uses less electricity than electric resistance because it MOVES heat instead of generating it. We typically only recommend pure electric furnaces in case (3) above.
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Mississauga, ON · Greater Toronto Area and up to 2 hours out — London, Kitchener, Barrie, Kingston, Niagara.