Heat pumps and furnaces heat your home – but in very different ways. Find out how and what’s right for you. When it comes to heating your home – you’ve got options. Unless you’re a seasoned pro (not likely) understanding how to choose between a heat pump or a furnace can feel overwhelming. Not to worry, here’s what you need to know to make the right choice.
Generally, the initial cost and installation of a gas furnace is cheaper than a heat pump. However, if your home requires cooling, a furnace will need to be matched with an air conditioner. A heat pump can do both. Altogether, your home comfort costs may be less with a heat pump. Of course, unit costs will vary depending on the size and model selected for both.
Heat pumps are more energy-efficient than furnaces because transferring heat is easier than making it. Under ideal conditions, a heat pump can transfer 300 percent more energy than it consumes. In contrast, a high-efficiency gas furnace is about 90 percent efficient. Heat pumps are powered by electricity, so you can save substantially on fuel consumption. It’s over 100% efficient in temperate climates and can serve as both a heater and an air conditioner.
Since heat pumps don’t use combustion, they don’t produce any harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This is becoming more and more important and some communities are even instituting local regulations insisting on lower-emission heat sources. Recent advancements have made many furnace models more energy efficient and lower their impact on the environment.
A gas furnace burns fuel so it can generate heat on the coldest days. If the outside air temperature routinely falls below freezing, a heat pump may have a hard time generating enough heat to keep your home warm. Supplemental systems are available to work in tandem with your heat pump and kick in on the coldest days. Unfortunately, these systems use a lot of energy – canceling out the energy efficient benefits if used too often.
The heat produced by gas furnaces feels hot and toasty compared to heat pump. In general, the air from a heat pump isn’t as hot as what you get from a gas furnace. It’s still warming your home, but it “blows cooler.” Some people don’t like that. In contrast to the hot and dry air of a furnace, heat pumps circulate air that’s naturally humid – so they won’t dry out your skin as much as the heat of furnace.
A gas-fired furnace generally has a longer lifespan than a heat pump. Furnaces with proper maintenance can last 20 years or more. A heat pump, like an air conditioner, more commonly has a lifespan of 15 years. Since a gas-operated furnace is only used for a few months out of each year, the maintenance requirements are less than those for a heat pump. A gas-fired furnace also has fewer mechanical parts than a heat pump, meaning fewer things that can break down or malfunction.
Understanding that every home and homeowner need is different, there are some general recommendations that can help you decide what heating source is right for you.
If your winters average around 30-40 degrees F, heat pumps are the perfect fit for your home. A climate like the Southeast that has milder winters works well for a heat pump. In addition, locations with low electric rates are prime candidates for heat pumps.
If your winters are bitterly cold and have temperatures consistently below freezing. Furnaces fare better in cold-weather climates because they don’t depend on the outdoor temperatures to convert to heat.
A heat pump, as part of a central heating and cooling system, uses the outside air to both heat a home in winter and cool it in summer. Basically, that means your heat pump will act as an air conditioner when things get hot and a heater when it’s cold outside – making heat pumps one versatile product. In addition to its flexibility, heat pumps are also energy-efficient. Think of a heat pump as a heat transporter constantly moving warm air from one place to another, to where it’s needed or not needed, depending on the season. In the winter, the pump extracts heat from the outdoor air or ground and distributes it to your home. In the summer, hot air from inside your home is removed – creating a cooler indoor environment.
A furnace, as part of a central heating and cooling system, burns fuel and distributes it throughout the house. All furnaces consist of four main components: 1) burners that deliver and burn fuel, 2) heat exchangers, 3) a blower and 4) a flue that acts as an exhaust for gaseous by-products. Depending on your situation, region and needs, you can choose from heating systems running on either gas or oil as fuel, or a hybrid packaged system that can use both fuel types.
