What are the main types of home heating?
A gas furnace burns natural gas and blows heated air through ductwork — the most common setup in the St. Louis metro. A boiler heats water and circulates it to radiators or in-floor loops. A heat pump runs the AC cycle in reverse to move heat into the home, and is efficient down to cold temperatures (with a backup for the coldest snaps). Furnace efficiency is rated in AFUE; heat pumps and AC in SEER2/HSPF2.
When does heating type matter most?
It matters at replacement. A failing furnace can be swapped like-for-like, or it can be the moment to consider a high-efficiency furnace or a heat pump that also cools — which may qualify for Ameren Missouri or Spire rebates. It also matters for safety: any gas appliance needs correct combustion and venting.
- No heat, short cycling, or a furnace that won't stay lit
- Yellow (not blue) burner flames, soot, or a persistent gas smell — shut it down and call
- Rising winter bills from a furnace below ~80% AFUE
- A 15+ year old system facing a major repair
What goes wrong (failure modes)?
Furnaces fail on igniters, flame sensors, pressure switches, and — most seriously — cracked heat exchangers, which can leak combustion gases and must be caught. Boilers fail on circulators, expansion tanks, and low-water conditions. The dangerous failure mode is ignoring a combustion or venting problem; the costly one is replacing equipment without correcting the duct or venting issue that caused premature wear.
How Degenhardt approaches it
We perform a combustion and safety check on every heating visit, size replacements to the home, and explain the real trade-offs between a standard furnace, a high-efficiency furnace, and a heat pump — including which rebates apply. Union-trained, NATE-certified, and serving the area since 1984.
Proof: family-owned and serving the St. Louis metro since 1984; NATE-certified, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 36 union-trained technicians; Daikin and Rheem dealer; free, no-obligation written estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Both work here. A high-efficiency gas furnace gives strong, low-cost heat in our cold snaps; a heat pump is very efficient most of the season and also cools, often with rebates. The right answer depends on your ducts, gas availability, and budget — that's exactly what a free estimate sorts out.
Yes. A cracked heat exchanger can release combustion gases including carbon monoxide into your home. If we find one, we'll show you and recommend shutting the unit down until it's repaired or replaced. Keep working CO detectors regardless.
Modern furnaces range from about 80% to 98% AFUE. Higher AFUE costs more upfront but burns less gas; 90%+ condensing furnaces may qualify for a Spire rebate. We'll model the payback for your home.