Silly question about heating

[Son Tao]

Hello all and Happy New Year. I've never had gas until moving to this home in New Jersey. We have a very old Borg-Warner furnance in the house. My silly question is, does our house utilize gas or electric for heating?

There are 2 furnances. One is utilized for heating water and I'm not sure what the Borg-Warner is used for. My guess is for heating but want to be sure so I dont get stuck with a huge electric bill if I'm wrong.

There is a wall thermostat that controls the central air conditioning and heating. Any help is appreciated.

[Dan Harris]

Hello all and Happy New Year. I've never had gas until moving to this home in New Jersey. We have a very old Borg-Warner furnance in the house. My silly question is, does our house utilize gas or electric for heating?

There are 2 furnances. One is utilized for heating water and I'm not sure what the Borg-Warner is used for. My guess is for heating but want to be sure so I dont get stuck with a huge electric bill if I'm wrong.

There is a wall thermostat that controls the central air conditioning and heating. Any help is appreciated.


There are a few ways to determine the type of heating unit with out opening anything up. Gas vent pipe to the exterior, gas line to furnace, etc.
Are you renting, or did you buy this home? You mentioned the furnace is very old.
If you bought it and did not get an inspection, by a local home inspector, or at the least get the heating unit inspected by a local heating contractor
I would suggest having that done yesterday.
If your renting, I would suggest contacting your landlord to have the unit serviced, inspected, and have them explain the operation of your furnace.
If my son called me with your question, and the very old furance was not inspected, and was gas , the first thing I would do is send him and his family money to stay in a motel [ enough for a motel 6, to make sure he didn't like the motel better than his new home :) ] until the furnace was inspected by a qualified heating contractor.

[John Kogel]

Hello all and Happy New Year. I've never had gas until moving to this home in New Jersey. We have a very old Borg-Warner furnance in the house. My silly question is, does our house utilize gas or electric for heating?

There are 2 furnances. One is utilized for heating water and I'm not sure what the Borg-Warner is used for. My guess is for heating but want to be sure so I dont get stuck with a huge electric bill if I'm wrong.

There is a wall thermostat that controls the central air conditioning and heating. Any help is appreciated.Need more info. Post a pic 640X480 in size.

[Stephen Atchison]

Simply turn off the thermostat, then set it to heat at 78 degrees, set it to auto mode, on and see which furnance kicks on.

Also check your breaker box for furnace breakers.

[Cobra Cook]

Do you see an exhaust pipe coming out of the top like on the hot water heater, does it feel hot to touch after running a while? Do you see a single hard pipe with a red handled valve to cut it off on the line going to the unit, or do you simply see wires from a disconnect going to it? type in bourg warner or york .com as york is who makes the unit and you can put the model number to see more about what you have.