What is the difference between a wall heater and a wall furnace?

Quick Answers

A wall heater is a self-contained electric heating unit mounted on an interior wall. It uses electricity to produce heat and does not require ductwork or vents. A wall furnace is a self-contained heating system, usually fueled by gas, that is vented through an exterior wall. Wall furnaces use a fan to circulate hot air through ductwork leading into different rooms.

The main differences between wall heaters and wall furnaces are:

Wall heaters run on electricity while wall furnaces typically use gas.

Wall heaters do not require ductwork while wall furnaces use ducts to distribute hot air.
Wall heaters provide radiant and convection heat from a single unit while wall furnaces use a fan to actively circulate hot air.
Wall heaters are self-contained while wall furnaces require exterior vents.

Wall heaters only heat the room they are installed in while wall furnaces can heat multiple rooms.

In summary, wall heaters are simple electric units for heating a single room and wall furnaces are more complex systems using gas and ductwork to heat multiple rooms. The choice depends on your heating needs.

What is a Wall Heater?

A wall heater is an electric heating appliance that is self-contained and mounted on an interior wall. Wall heaters are a type of fixed electric space heater that use electricity to produce heat. They do not require venting or ductwork as all components are in a single unit attached to the wall.

How Do Wall Heaters Work?

Wall heaters work by using electric resistance coils or heating elements to produce heat. The electric current passes through resistive wires or heating elements, causing them to warm up. These heated components then transfer heat directly into the surrounding air through convection and radiation.

The basic components of a wall heater include:

Heating element – This is the coiled wire or heating plate that heats up when electric current passes through.

Reflector – Located behind the heating element, this reflects heat outwards into the room.
Grilles – Metal grilles cover the heating element and allow warm air to be released into the room.
Thermostat – This allows the unit to be turned on/off and temperature level controlled.

Mounting bracket – Securely mounts the unit against the wall.

When turned on, the electric current heats up the heating element, which then warms up the surrounding metal components. These hot surfaces release heat into the air through convection currents. The reflector also directs radiant heat outwards into the room. The warmed air circulates naturally due to convection, rising up and out the grilles along the top of the unit. This allows the wall heater to transfer heat directly to the surrounding space without ducts.

Types of Wall Heaters

There are a few common types of wall heaters:

Fan-forced wall heaters – These units have a fan that helps push out the hot air, allowing for faster and wider heat circulation.
Convection wall heaters – Rely solely on natural air circulation and do not have a fan.
Radiant wall heaters – Emit mostly radiant heat from their hot surfaces with minimal convection effect.

High wattage wall heaters – Have heating elements with higher wattage (1500+ watts) to produce more heat.

Fan-forced and convection wall heaters are the most common. Fan-forced units can heat spaces more quickly while convection models provide a more gentle warmth.

Benefits of Wall Heaters

Wall heaters provide several benefits:

Self-contained – No need for complex venting or ductwork.
Cost effective – Less expensive to install than central heating or ductless systems.
Compact size – Thin profile allows installation in tight spaces.

Zonal heating – Heats the specific room it’s installed in.
Easy installation – Can be mounted on wall with minimal wiring.
Energy efficient – Only heat the occupied spaces being used.

Adjustable thermostats – Allow customized comfort and scheduling.
Quiet operation – No noisy fan or moving parts.

The self-contained, electric design makes wall heaters a versatile solution for heating small rooms or zones in a space. They can supplement a central heating system or be installed as a primary heat source.

What is a Wall Furnace?

A wall furnace is a self-contained heating system that is mounted on an exterior wall and uses gas combustion or electricity to produce heat. The main components of a wall furnace include:

Heat exchanger – Transfers heat from the combustion chamber into the air flow.
Burners – Gas-fired burners that combust fuel to produce heat.

Blower fan – Circulates air across the heat exchanger and into ductwork.
Vents – Exhaust flue vents combustion byproducts to the outside.
Controls – Allow adjusting heat output and airflow.

Unlike a wall heater, a wall furnace uses a fan to push heated air through ductwork that leads to different areas. This allows it to heat multiple rooms, not just the space where it’s installed. Wall furnaces require venting through an exterior wall for combustion exhaust and fresh air intake.

How Do Wall Furnaces Work?

Wall furnaces operate in the following way:

Gas or propane is burned in the combustion chamber.

The burners produce hot exhaust gases that pass through the heat exchanger.
The heat exchanger transfers heat from the gases into the circulating air.
The blower fan draws cool air across the hot heat exchanger.

The now heated air is pushed through ducts leading to different rooms.
Cooled exhaust gases are vented outside through a flue pipe.

This constant cycling of air across the heat exchanger and into ductwork allows the wall furnace to produce a steady flow of hot air. The furnace can be controlled via thermostat and adjusted to maintain comfortable temperatures.

Types of Wall Furnaces

There are two main types of wall furnaces:

Gas wall furnaces – Use propane or natural gas for fuel. Provide greater heating capacity and better temperature control.
Electric wall furnaces – Use electric heating elements instead of combustion. Do not require venting but have limited heat output.

Gas wall furnaces are much more common due to their greater heating performance. Within gas models there are condensing and non-condensing designs:

Condensing – Achieve higher efficiency by condensing water vapor from exhaust gases.
Non-condensing – Basic vented models without condensing capability.

Condensing wall furnaces can achieve AFUE ratings over 90% but require corrosion resistant venting.

Benefits of Wall Furnaces

The benefits of wall furnaces include:

Compact, all-in-one unit requiring little space.

Can supplement central heating or heat entire home.
Ducted heating allows conditioning of multiple rooms.
Does not take up interior floor space like a furnace.

Gas-fired models provide greater heating capacity.
High efficiency condensing designs available.
Heat output and circulation can be controlled.

The combination of venting, heating power, and ductwork allows wall furnaces to effectively heat small to medium-sized homes. They are a versatile solution for zoned heating requirements.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a side-by-side overview of the key differences between wall heaters and wall furnaces:

Category	Wall Heater	Wall Furnace
Fuel Source	Electric only	Gas, propane or electric
Operation	Resistance heating elements	Gas combustion or electric heat
Heat Distribution	Natural convection and radiation	Forced air through ducts
Air Circulation	Minimal air movement	Blower fan circulates air
Venting	Vent free	Requires venting
Rooms Heated	Single room	Multiple rooms
Efficiency	100% AFUE	Up to 96% AFUE for gas
Installation	Wall mounted	Wall mounted
Sizing	500 – 2500 watts	18,000 – 60,000 BTU/h

Wall Heater vs Wall Furnace by Use Case

Whether a wall heater or wall furnace is better depends on your specific heating requirements:

Single Room

If heating a single room or space, a wall heater is likely the better choice. A wall heater can provide focused heat for a bedroom, bathroom, or small living area more efficiently than using a large furnace. They require less installation work as well.

Whole Home Heating

For heating an entire small home or apartment, a wall furnace is usually preferred. The ducted heating allows hot air to be directed throughout the residence. A properly sized gas wall furnace can provide sufficient heating capacity for the full home.

Zonal Heating

In a house with an existing furnace, installing wall heaters in specific rooms requiring extra warmth can be an excellent solution. Wall heaters enable zonal temperature customization for rooms unused at certain times.

Replace Old Furnace

Upgrading from an outdated furnace, a wall furnace can be a good replacement option. Wall furnaces provide modern efficiency and performance for whole home heating with a compact footprint.

Rental Property

For heating in a condo, apartment or other rental unit, wall heaters allow customized control without a large installation. Their portability also permits removing them when moving out.

Garage or Basement

Spaces like attached garages or finished basements can benefit from a wall heater installed for occasional use or to take the chill out. Their lower cost and easy installation suits intermittent heating well.

Installation and Maintenance Comparison

There are some key differences between installing and maintaining both heating systems:

Installation

Wall heaters only require mounting on the wall and connecting to power.
Wall furnaces need mounting, exterior venting installation, and ductwork added.

Any circuit upgrades or gas line work will increase furnace costs.
Wall furnaces generally require professional installation.
Wall heaters can be installed by handy homeowners.

Maintenance

Wall heaters have no maintenance other than occasional dusting and cleaning.
Wall furnaces require yearly service of the burners, heat exchanger, and exhaust vents.
The blower fan motor may require periodic oiling or replacement.

Air filter changes are needed with wall furnaces.
Gas valve and combustion testing should be performed annually.

Wall heaters provide simplicity of ownership while wall furnaces involve more ongoing maintenance costs.

Cost Comparison

Heating costs differ quite a bit between the two systems:

Equipment Cost

Wall heaters range from $100 – $300 depending on wattage and type.
Wall furnaces have an installed cost of $2,000 – $5,000 or more.

Electric models are less expensive than gas furnaces.
Condensing wall furnaces are premium models costing more up front.

Installation Cost

Wall heater installation runs $200 – $500 for wiring and mounting.

Wall furnace installation averages $2,000 – $5,000 including ductwork.
Gas line work, circuit upgrades, and chimney lining can add expenses.

Operating Cost

Wall heaters cost around $30 – $60 per month to operate depending on use.

Wall furnaces average $150 – $300+ in gas or electric costs for full home use.
High efficiency condensing furnaces can cut fuel bills by up to 30%.

In total, wall heaters provide the lowest up front and ongoing costs for heating smaller spaces.

Shopping Considerations

Here are some important things to factor when choosing and buying a wall heater or furnace:

Wall Heaters

Choose the correct wattage based on room size.
Select thermostat type: manual vs programmable.

Consider fan-forced or radiant models depending on use.
Verify proper clearance distances from walls or objects.
Check for ETL certification and built-in safety features.

Wall Furnaces

Have unit and ductwork properly sized for home size.
Select AFUE efficiency rating based on local energy costs.
Choose condensing or non-condensing gas furnace.

Compare warranty coverage between brands.
Consider smart thermostats for convenience and scheduling.
Verify proper venting installation and clearance.

Getting the correctly sized units installed properly is key to maximizing performance and savings.

Conclusion

The primary differences between wall heaters and wall furnaces come down to:

Wall heaters providing fixed electric heat for single rooms.

Wall furnaces using gas or electric to heat whole homes via ductwork.
Heaters offer lower purchase and operating costs for zonal heating.
Furnaces provide heating capacity for full home replacements or additions.

Knowing your heating requirements and costs will determine if a wall heater or furnace is the best solution. Wall heaters work well for targeted room heating while wall furnaces enable effective whole home comfort. With their compact size and efficient operation, they can be ideal choices for a variety of homes and heating needs.