If you’ve ever stood in front of your mechanical closet or basement unit thinking, “I should probably know what this thing is…” you’re not alone.
Every heating season, I hear the same questions—usually all at once:
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what type of furnace do I have
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how to tell if furnace is gas or electric
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what does a gas furnace look like
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furnace model numbers
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do I have a furnace
And when the system in question is a Goodman MBVK electric furnace setup, the confusion gets even worse—because technically, what you’re looking at might not even be a “furnace” in the traditional sense.
So let’s clear the fog.
This is Jake Lawson talking, and my goal here isn’t to make you an HVAC tech—it’s to make sure you understand what equipment you actually own, how to identify it correctly, and why that matters before you Google the wrong fix, order the wrong part, or follow advice meant for a completely different system.
First, let’s tackle the most honest question of all: “Do I even have a furnace?”
You’d be surprised how often do I have a furnace is the right place to start.
In everyday language, people call anything that heats air and blows it through ducts a furnace. But in HVAC terms, that’s not always accurate.
You might have:
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a gas furnace
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an electric furnace
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an air handler with electric heat
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a heat pump with auxiliary heat
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or a hybrid system
If your home uses ductwork and warm air comes out of vents, you have a forced-air heating system—but that doesn’t automatically mean you have a furnace.
This is where the Goodman MBVK comes into play.
What the Goodman MBVK actually is (and why people call it a furnace)
The Goodman MBVK is technically an air handler, not a traditional furnace cabinet. It’s designed to move air across:
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a cooling coil for air conditioning, and
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electric resistance heat strips for heating when installed.
When those electric heat strips are present, the MBVK functions exactly like what most homeowners think of as an electric furnace—even though there’s no combustion, no burners, and no gas involved.
Goodman classifies the MBVK this way in their official product documentation, describing it as a modular air handler platform compatible with electric heat kits. You can see how Goodman positions the MBVK series directly on their product overview page. (Goodman MBVK Series overview)
So if you’re standing in front of an MBVK cabinet asking do i have a furnace, the accurate answer is:
You have an electric air handler performing the role of a furnace.
That distinction matters more than you might think.
Why knowing your furnace type actually matters
Before we get into visuals and model numbers, here’s why identifying your system correctly is critical:
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Gas and electric furnaces fail differently
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They use completely different safety systems
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Troubleshooting advice is not interchangeable
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Parts, maintenance, and costs vary significantly
If you don’t know what type of furnace you have, you’re guaranteed to follow at least one piece of bad advice online.
How to tell if furnace is gas or electric (no tools required)
Let’s get practical.
If you’re asking how to tell if furnace is gas or electric, start with these checks.
1. Look for a gas line
A gas furnace will have a clearly visible metal gas pipe running into the cabinet, usually with:
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a shutoff valve,
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a union,
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and sometimes a flexible connector.
If there is no gas line, you do not have a gas furnace.
An MBVK electric furnace setup will have no gas piping at all.
2. Look for a flue or vent pipe
Gas furnaces must vent combustion gases. That means you’ll see:
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a metal flue pipe,
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PVC venting (on high-efficiency models),
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or a chimney connection.
Electric furnaces and air handlers do not vent anything.
No flue = no combustion = no gas furnace.
3. Open the panel (safely)
Inside a gas furnace, you’ll typically see:
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burners,
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a heat exchanger,
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an inducer motor,
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ignition components.
Inside an electric furnace or MBVK air handler, you’ll see:
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a blower assembly,
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wiring,
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electric heat strips (if installed),
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control boards.
No burners means no gas.
4. Check your utility bill
If your home has:
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no gas service,
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or a gas bill that never changes seasonally,
you’re almost certainly running electric heat.
The U.S. Department of Energy explains the fundamental differences between gas heating and electric resistance heating clearly, which can help frame what you’re seeing in your home. (DOE heating systems overview)
What does a gas furnace look like compared to an electric one?
This is another common search: what does a gas furnace look like.
Here’s the simplest mental image.
Gas furnace appearance
A gas furnace usually:
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has a bulkier lower cabinet (burner area),
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includes visible venting,
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has warning labels about combustion,
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contains a heat exchanger section.
It often looks more mechanical and industrial inside.
Electric furnace / MBVK air handler appearance
An MBVK-based electric furnace setup:
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looks cleaner inside,
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has no burner section,
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contains electric heating elements (metal coils),
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relies heavily on wiring and relays.
It resembles a large air-moving appliance rather than a mini engine.
Once you know what you’re looking for, the difference is obvious.
Furnace model numbers: the single most reliable answer
If you want certainty—no guessing, no assumptions—look at the furnace model numbers.
Every Goodman unit has a data plate with:
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model number,
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serial number,
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electrical ratings,
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manufacturing information.
On MBVK units, that plate is typically inside the cabinet or on an exterior panel.
How model numbers tell the story
Goodman model numbers encode:
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equipment type,
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series,
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capacity,
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voltage.
If the model number begins with MBVK, you’re dealing with:
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an air handler platform,
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not a gas furnace,
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capable of electric heat operation.
Once you identify the model, you can stop guessing what type of furnace you have.
Goodman’s installation literature outlines MBVK configuration and confirms its role as an electric air handler when paired with heat kits. (Goodman MBVK installation manual)
Why people get confused by MBVK systems
There are a few reasons MBVK owners struggle with what type of furnace do i have:
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It heats air like a furnace
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It uses ducts like a furnace
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It’s often called a furnace by builders and homeowners
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It doesn’t match pictures of “typical” furnaces online
So people assume:
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maybe it’s gas?
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maybe it’s electric?
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maybe it’s something else?
The answer is simpler than it looks.
If it’s an MBVK with electric heat, it’s electric heat only.
Common mistakes people make after misidentifying their furnace
Misidentification leads to real problems, like:
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looking for a pilot light that doesn’t exist,
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trying to reset gas safety switches on electric units,
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ordering flame sensors for systems with no flame,
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following gas furnace reset instructions that don’t apply.
This is why the first step in any heating issue should be confirming what type of furnace you actually have.
Quick identification checklist (save this)
If you’re still unsure, run through this list:
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No gas line? → Not gas
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No vent pipe? → Not gas
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Model number starts with MBVK? → Electric air handler
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Electric breakers labeled “heat strips”? → Electric furnace setup
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Home has no gas service? → Electric heat
If all signs point to electric, stop searching gas-related fixes.
Why this matters before calling for service
When you call for service and say:
“I have a furnace problem”
the next question should always be:
“Gas or electric?”
Knowing the answer:
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speeds up diagnosis,
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prevents miscommunication,
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avoids wasted time and cost.
And if you ever sell the home, accurate equipment identification helps buyers and inspectors alike.
Final answer, Jake Lawson style
Let’s close this out clearly.
If you’re asking:
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what type of furnace do I have
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how to tell if furnace is gas or electric
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do I have a furnace
Here’s the takeaway:
A Goodman MBVK setup is an electric air handler performing furnace duties, not a gas furnace. It has no flame, no gas, no venting, and no combustion components.
Once you understand that, everything else—maintenance, troubleshooting, expectations—starts to make sense.
And that’s the difference between guessing… and actually knowing what’s heating your home.
