In recent years, there’s been discussion at the city and state levels about legislation that would require new construction homes to use electricity instead of natural gas. In 2007, the city of Bellingham created the Climate Protection Action Plan Update and in 2021, Governor Inslee drafted the Climate Policy Package – both of which propose to eliminate natural gas from new homes, and slowly phase out natural gas from existing homes.

If you’re building a new home powered by electricity – or if your home runs on natural gas and you’re considering converting to electricity – here are some options for heating the air and water in your home.

New Construction

If you choose to heat a new home with electricity, you have three options: ductless heat pumps, forced air heat pumps and electric resistance heating. The option you choose will need to pass the 2018 Energy Code, which covers heating, cooling and insulation at a more stringent level than the previous 2015 energy code.

Ductless heat pumps – or mini-splits – are the most efficient source of heat. They use a refrigerant and an electrically driven pump to absorb or release heat between an outdoor unit and individual indoor units, typically one in each large room. They work best if you have an open floor plan in the space you want to heat, or if smaller rooms have another heat source such as electric resistance heaters.

Forced air heat pumps act like a regular furnace, but get their heating and cooling from a heat pump system. Unlike ductless systems, forced air heat pumps are designed to heat the whole house using ducts like a traditional furnace. The downside is they are more expensive to install than a ductless heat pump, take up more space and are less efficient. They often have electric strip heating as a backup, so when it gets really cold you end up using electric resistance heat.

Electric resistance heat includes any heat source that creates heat by slowing down electricity, such as baseboard, electric furnaces, cove heaters, radiant floor or ceiling panels, in-wall heaters and plug-in radiant heaters. These units are easy and inexpensive to install, and can go in a variety of locations. But, they are the least efficient type of electric heat, and can be difficult to get permitted in compliance with the energy code.

For heating water, there are two options: electric resistance or heat pump.

Electric resistance water heaters are the traditional tank style that has been around for decades. They generally use two electric heating elements immersed in the tank to heat the water. These units are simple, cheap, and easy to fix or replace – but they are not as efficient as heat pump water heaters.

Heat pump water heaters use the technology found in a ductless heat pump to heat water, by removing heat from the air and putting it into the water using a heat exchanger on the top of the tank or – in more expensive units – located outside of your home. These energy-efficient water heaters are much taller and wider than the electric resistance tanks. Since they generally pull warm air in and shoot cold air out the top of the unit, they generally need to be ducted to the exterior of the home. Like forced air heat pumps, this type of water heater uses less energy-efficient electric heating elements as a backup if you can’t generate enough heat with the heat pump.

Existing Homes

Changing from gas heat to electric heat in an existing home involves using the same units described above.

If you have an existing gas furnace, you can most easily install a ducted system like a forced air heat pump in a like-for-like replacement. If you install ductless heat pumps, you may need to install secondary heating like electric resistance heaters in the smaller rooms of the house.

Installing a heat pump water heater in an existing home can be tricky. The units are wider and taller than standard water heater tanks, so they may not fit in the existing space and should be vented to the exterior or installed in an area with a large volume of air like a well-ventilated garage. An electric resistance water heater is also an option.

We Install Electric and Natural Gas Systems

Whether you’re looking to make the switch to electric or sticking with natural gas for now, CAZ Construction can help. We install both natural gas and electric appliances and systems, depending on your needs and the current laws in your area. Our experienced electricians and plumbers can install your system quickly and professionally. Plus, we can help you find rebates and discounts from local providers and organizations. Call 360-389-1056 to tell us about your heating needs, and see if you may qualify for rebates.