On a cold day in Wasilla, not much beats coming inside to a warm home. Gas heaters are a wonderful way to keep your home warm during the cold season…until they stop working, that is. You probably don’t think about your furnace much, but you’ll definitely notice when it stops in the middle of winter.

Gas heaters are popular in Wasilla because they are cost effective, reliable, and provide large amounts of instant heat to your home—which are critical things to consider when living in a cold climate.

While energy costs continue to rise across Alaska, natural gas is still the cheaper option for Alaskan communities along the railbelt. The average Wasilla homes pays $13.78 per thousand cubic feet for natural gas, while the average electricity rates are 15.23 cents per kWh. Paying 15.23 cents per kWH is roughly equivalent to paying $28 per thousand cubic feet for natural gas.

So at an average of $13.78 per thousand cubic feet, natural gas is far more cost effective. Especially when you consider how much your heater runs.

Another reason gas furnaces are so popular in Wasilla is because they to heat up the home faster than electric heat. Electric coils also take time to heat up, but a flame is instantly hot. Because a gas furnace distributes heat as soon as you turn it on, it warms up the home faster than an electric furnace. Not only is it faster at heating your home, it’s can also be warmer. An electric furnace only has so many sets of heating coils. When they are all up and running, that’s the best it can do.

However, because gas furnaces run on a combustible fuel, they need to be maintained yearly to ensure safe, efficient operation. A faulty furnace can lead to serious consequences. Any of these signs means it’s time for an upgrade.

Time to upgrade your heater? Give us a call today.

What Are Some Common Signs That Your Furnace May Be Malfunctioning?

Older than 15 Years

Most furnaces last between 15 and 20 years. If your furnace is close to this age or older, you should start considering a replacement. The older the furnace, the less efficient and more expensive it is to maintain.

Rising Heating Costs

Are your energy bills suddenly higher than normal, despite using the same amount of energy? Furnaces often lose their efficiency as they age, especially if they have not been properly maintained. It could also point to an issue with your furnace that could lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Talk to a professional heating company to ensure your family is safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Yellow Flame

Your furnace flame should always be blue – this is how you know the gas is being burned efficiently. If pilot light flame is yellow or orange, then you might have dirt in your burner. A professional HVAC technician can clean your furnace and check for any other necessary adjustments.

Unfamiliar Noises

Old furnaces can make all sorts of noises. But a banging, grinding, or whining sound could indicate serious issues. These should be evaluated by a professional.

Excessive Soot or Dirt

Soot on your furnace isn’t necessarily a bad sign, but if excessive soot is collecting near where the furnace connects to the ducts, the heat exchanger may be leaking. It’s not good in general for particles of soot to be circulating throughout your home, but the main concern is the possibility of carbon monoxide being released into your house.  If you see soot in this area of your furnace, turn the heat off and call a professional right away.

Frequent Repairs

Furnaces incur the most breakdowns in the last 2 years of their lives. If those repairs are becoming more and more expensive, it may make more sense to replace the system altogether.

If your furnace is nearing the end of its life, you can either pay for continuous service visits, or you can buy a brand-new heating system. Although both decisions affect your wallet, there are numerous long-term benefits of replacing your home’s furnace rather than repairing it.

Need a repair? Sign up for our Comfort Club Membership to get 10% off all repairs.

What Are the Best Heaters in Wasilla?

When you purchase a new, high-efficiency furnace, you could significantly reduce your household’s monthly utility bills in the wintertime. Another benefit is that buying new furnace reduces the need for heater repairs, which can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

If you are planning to buy a new furnace, you will be amazed at the number of options available to you. While variety seems great, it can often get confusing and take up a lot of time.

To make things easier for you, we have broken down our top three Lennox gas heaters for Wasilla homes in 2020 to help you pick the right model.

#1. SLP98V Variable-Capacity Gas Furnace

• Efficiency rating of up to 98.7% AFUE, which can save you several hundred dollars
• Dual-fuel capability, meaning can be combined with an electric heat pump to enhance comfort and fuel efficiency by alternating between electric and gas heat, optimizing energy use and minimizing heating costs
• Variable speed motor blower, which provides a quiet, consistent flow of air for enhanced comfort, efficiency and humidity control
• Variable-capacity operation that goes beyond typical low and high two-stage operation, varying output from 35% to 100%
• Stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger that efficiently captures waste heat, allowing the furnace to achieve industry-leading efficiency levels
• iComfort™ compatible, allowing it to pair with the iComfort thermostat so you can maintain the most efficient operating conditions possible

#2. SLP98V Variable-Capacity Gas Furnace

• Efficiency rating of 96% AFUE, which can save you hundreds of dollars
• SureLight ignitor made of silicon nitride, which ensures long product life and reliable operation
• Variable speed technology that delivers greater humidity control and consistent airflow for improved comfort and indoor air quality
• Ultra-low continuous fan speed provides a quiet, constant flow of air and optimizes indoor air quality accessories
• Stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger that efficiently captures waste heat, allowing the furnace to achieve industry-leading efficiency levels
• iComfort™ compatible, allowing it to pair with the iComfort thermostat so you can maintain the most efficient operating conditions possible

#3. ML195 Gas Furnace

• Efficiency rating of 95% AFUE, which can save you hundreds of dollars each year
• SureLight ignitor made of silicon nitride, which ensures long product life and reliable operation
• Stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger that efficiently captures waste heat, allowing the furnace to achieve industry-leading efficiency levels
• Dual-fuel capability, meaning can be combined with an electric heat pump to enhance comfort and fuel efficiency by alternating between electric and gas heat, optimizing energy use and minimizing heating costs
• Stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger that efficiently captures waste heat, allowing the furnace to achieve industry-leading efficiency levels

Should I Get a Garage Heater as Well?

Your furnace keeps your home warm, but what about your garage? If you are sick of getting in and out of your car in the cold, then you may want to consider a garage heater.

A garage heater will keep your vehicle warmer. It’s no secret that Alaskan winters are harsh and can wreak havoc on your vehicle, but keeping your car in a heated garage can help combat this.

A garage heater will keep rooms above the garage warm. Over-the-garage additions have become popular additions for homeowners in recent years. The problem is that these rooms are often cold – even with their own heat source and proper insulation. A heater in the garage can go a long way in making these rooms feel warmer.

A garage heater will keep you warm while you work. An unheated garage can be an uncomfortable place to have a workshop during the winter months. You don’t want to spend as much time trying to stay warm as you do working on your projects. This can be remedied by simply heating your garage.

How To Extend Your Gas Heater’s Life

While gas furnaces will run reliably for years, routine furnace service and regular maintenance are the key to keeping your heating system running at its highest efficiency and improving its life expectancy.

HeatSource offers fast and reliable service, which means we’re available to help you anytime, day or night. If your furnace isn’t working the way that it should be, we provide the immediate furnace repair you need.

Have a broken furnace? Contact us now to talk about your options.