Sleek and Efficient: Appearance of Electric Furnaces

Sleekness and efficiency are often common desires for our home components in today’s day and age, and a great example of an HVAC component that fits both these categories is an electric furnace. Clients commonly ask what an electric furnace looks like, whether just for awareness or to try and tell it apart from a gas furnace in a new home – and you’ll typically find sleek components that match the high levels of efficiency these products create.

At Thompson’s Comfort Connection, we’re here to help with a variety of furnace repair and furnace installation services around Sandy, Midvale, Draper, Riverton, Cottonwood Heights and nearby areas, including for electric furnaces. Here are some of the basics on how a typical electric furnace will look, some of the key components to be aware of, and some basic explainers of how this furnace model works.

Electric Furnaces Are Like Toasters

If you’re looking to understand how an electric furnace works and what it looks like, one of the simplest comparisons we can make is to a toaster. Like an electric furnace, a toaster uses heating elements (also called coils) that are powered by electricity to create heat. These powerful coils generate enough heat to toast your bread or bagel, and during this process they also generate light – just like in an electric furnace.

Naturally, there are some major differences between a simple toaster and an electric furnace in terms of size, specific components and more. But from a basic mechanism standpoint, this is a simple enough way to understand how they work.

Our next few sections will go over the key components of a typical electric furnace and their sleek, modern appearance in most homes.

Basic Cabinet

The housing of the furnace (often called the cabinet) is typically made from metal, and as mentioned it’s a fairly sleek-looking component. In most modern furnaces, you’ll find streamlined straight lines with very few curves or edges. The idea here is to create an appearance that looks good in any home decor setting.

For those who are wondering how large an electric furnace actually is, their size can vary somewhat but they’re generally not much different than a gas furnace – perhaps a bit smaller in some cases.

Heating Elements

Not shockingly, the heating elements of an electric furnace are among its key components. These will often be found in the form of coils that run along the sides or bottom of the furnace. These coils heat up and then transfer this heat throughout the home.

One important note here: Unlike a gas furnace, an electric furnace does not produce any harmful byproducts as it heats your home. There’s no chance of carbon monoxide leaks with an electric furnace, for instance.

You may also see these heating elements referred to by other names. They are sometimes called a heat package, for instance, or sometimes simply referred to as heat strips.

Blower

Another key component of the electric furnace is its blower – this is what actually blows heated air into the various ducts in your home. The shape and size of these blowers can vary quite a bit from one model to another, but their purpose is always the same.

There are a few other potential components in an electric furnace, but more often than not these will be located within the furnace itself and not visible to the naked eye. For any further questions on how an electric furnace looks or works, or to learn about any of our heating repair services, speak to one of our HVAC pros today. We’re here to answer all your questions and get you on the path towards home comfort efficiency!

Basic Electric Furnace Maintenance

If you’ve chosen to install an electric furnace in your home, you’ll want to keep it running as efficiently as possible for as long as possible. To ensure this, here are a few basic maintenance tips to follow:

• Regularly change the air filters: This is something that should be done every 1-3 months depending on usage and the type of filter you have.
• Clean the blower: Dust and debris can build up in the blower over time, causing strain on the motor and reducing efficiency. Clean it regularly using a damp cloth or vacuum.
• Inspect visible parts: Every so often, check visible components such as the thermostat, heating elements and blower for any signs of damage or wear. If you notice anything, contact a professional for repairs.
• Schedule professional maintenance: Even if your furnace seems to be running well, it’s still important to schedule annual maintenance with a professional HVAC technician. They’ll be able to catch any potential issues before they become major problems, and ensure your furnace is running efficiently.

Electric furnaces are a great choice for homes looking for a sleek and efficient heating option. If you have any further questions about how they look or work, or need maintenance or repairs, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Thompson’s Comfort Connection. We’re here to help keep your home comfortable all year round, whether you’re in Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Draper, Riverton or any nearby area.