In some regions or circumstances, electricity is the preferred energy source for a forced-air heating system. An electric furnace is similar to a conventional gas forced-air furnace except that it produces heat with electric heating elements instead of gas burners. Circuit breakers that control the heating elements may be either inside or outside the cabinet.

An electric-resistance furnace works like a big hair dryer. As with a gas forced-air furnace, it has a blower that draws air into the cabinet through a cold-air return and then pushes the air through the heat exchanger. There, electric heating elements heat the air, and the blower pushes the warmed air back into rooms through a system of ductwork.

One advantage of electric heating over gas and other combustion fuels is that electric heating doesn’t give off carbon monoxide. This is good for the environment and makes the unit easier to install because it doesn’t require a flue to carry combustion gases outside. A possible downside may be that electricity is higher priced than gas in your region of the country.

Monthly maintenance involves replacing (or cleaning) the air filter, and if the unit includes a humidifier, cleaning that component.

Most problems are caused by an interruption in the delivery of power, faulty heating elements, or blower breakdowns. Because electric furnaces have a high-voltage hazard inside the cabinet, leave repairs to a qualified HVAC service technician.