What Every New Vegas Resident Should Know About Home Heating and Furnaces

Posted on November 26, 2019 by oozle

When you think of life in Nevada, most people think their air conditioning unit is the most important HVAC system in the house. However, new residents quickly learn that Nevada temperatures can fluctuate a lot due to its desert landscape. While air conditioning is definitely a must in Las Vegas, having a proper heating system in place for the nights when it does drop to 40 degrees and below will be a lifesaver—literally.

A new furnace can be a big investment in your home. As a new Las Vegas resident, it’s important to consider all the details associated with heating your home like upfront costs, warranties, fuel sources, and space. We’ve put together this guide to answer your questions so that you can focus on making the best decision for you and your family.

Heating Options

There are several options for heating your home:

Furnace

A furnace is the most common source of heat for the majority of homes. A furnace supplies heat by blowing heated air through ducts. The warm air is pushed into each room through a vent. This method can be powered by electricity, natural gas, or fuel.

Boiler

Boilers distribute heat to your home via steam. They heat water which releases steam into radiators that then push the warm air into the rooms of your house. The typical household boiler uses natural gas or oil-based fuel.

Heat Pump

Heat pumps are essentially a combined heating and cooling unit. Air conditioners take warm air from inside and push it outside during the summer, while the heat pump reverses this method in the winter.

Space Heater

If you’re looking to heat a smaller area, space heaters could be the way to go. There are several types of space heaters including wall-mounted, free-standing, and floor models. Space heaters use gas or electricity to push warm air out around them. This method of heating can be expensive if you’re trying to heat a large area with an electric unit, but smaller rooms could benefit.

Wood-Burning or Pellet Stove

Wood heating is usually found in more rural areas. This method delivers heat by burning wooden chunks or pellets and warming the surrounding air. A lot of people are switching to pellets because they are more convenient, environmentally-friendly, keep heat in longer, and offer higher indoor air quality than traditional wood stoves.

Fireplace

Nowadays, fireplaces are usually secondary heating systems and more of a statement piece than a primary heat source. They provide a warm glow and some heat if you are sitting right in front of them, but tend to lose more heat than they provide to a larger space. Gas and traditional wood options are still popular as part of the decor in a lot of households.

Why We Recommend Using a Furnace to Heat Your Home

Whether you’re moving into an existing house with a heater that may need replacing, or building a new house altogether, finding the right heating source for your home is important—even in Nevada. We recommend using a furnace to heat your Las Vegas home for the following reasons:

Shared Ductwork

A house without a central air conditioning unit is rare in Las Vegas, meaning that most homes have existing ductwork in place. Since a furnace also utilizes ducts to deliver heat, it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone and combine your heating and cooling systems.

Affordable

When it comes to affordability, installing a furnace is near the top of the list. Furnaces efficiently heat your entire home using either electric or gas, so costs can remain relatively low. Once your furnace is installed, there aren’t any other upfront costs associated with this method of heating. The unit simply runs on the energy sources you’re already used to paying for in the summer using A/C.

Electric or Gas Options

Natural gas, propane, or electricity are all options when it comes to running your furnace. Since a lot of homes already utilize natural gas for other things, this is a popular option when it comes to hooking up a furnace. Propane is also an option but needs to be refilled and stored on-site. Electricity is generally more expensive, but since heaters are used on a minimal basis in Las Vegas, this option is available for those that don’t like the idea of having to use gas.

Easy and Efficient

If and when Nevada temperatures do drop, you’ll want a reliable heating system. Furnaces use the same delivery system as your A/C unit, so there is less configuration when you’re ready to warm up on a cool night.

ProServ Is Here for You!

Let ProServ’s expert team take care of your heating needs. Whether you decide to install a furnace or go with another heating system, our trained technicians can get the job done right. Give us a call at 702-656-4500 today!