Furnace vs Heat Pump: 5 Essential Differences
The cold weather months are creeping ever closer and you might be considering what kind of heating system would be best in your home. There are a number of options, such as furnaces and heat pumps, but which one will keep you warm and happy this winter?
The furnace vs heat pump debate will depend on a lot of factors. No one option is best for every household, so to make the right decision, you need to weigh all the differences.
Let’s break down the 5 biggest differences between these two systems to keep you warm this winter.
Breaking Down the Furnace Vs Heat Pump Debate
Heating your home can get expensive. Between the costs of installing an entire system, maintenance, and electrical bills, you need to know as much as you can about your options.
Heat pumps and furnaces may provide a similar service, but they do so in very different ways.
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Installation Costs
While unit sizes and installation costs will vary between unit and contractor, the general costs of installing a furnace are cheaper than that of a heat pump.
The twist is that while a heat pump can both heat and cool all by itself, the furnace will also need an air conditioning unit to help cool the house. Installing two units ends up raising the price well above the heat pump.
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Energy Efficiency
A heat pump operates by transferring potential heat around to concentrate it where you need it. Transferring heat is a good deal more energy efficient than creating heat.
This means that for units of the same size, the heat pump will run you a good deal less energy in the long run.
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Effective Heating Levels
This is where both units tend to split into their roles. For very cold areas, a gas furnace has a great edge as it never stops running. A heat pump runs out of quality heat to work with during the extreme cold weather.
If you live in a climate with harsh winters, a furnace will remain working. For milder climates, a heat pump will often be all you need.
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Air Quality and Comfort
Heat pumps do not burn fuel in the same way that furnaces do. Because heat pumps don’t burn gas and other chemicals, this lowers even their potential greenhouse gas emissions to zero. On the other hand, though, heat pumps do not blast heat with as much efficiency, leaving you without the toasty warm heat in the winter.
Furnaces tend to have a more dramatic shift in comfortable heat while heat pumps have a cleaner run overall.
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Lifespan and Maintenance
Gas furnaces, alongside quality maintenance, can often live up to 20 years or more. A heat pump will often live around 15 years with the same level of maintenance. This does give the furnace a bit of an edge, but both will last a good, long while.
For that maintenance, it is always good to have some of the best on your side. A good contracting professional, like the good folks at https://www.schneidermechanical.com/ can provide you with reasonable rates and lasting benefits.
Keeping Up With the World Around You
With a better understanding of the real differences between a furnace vs heat pump, you can make the right choice for your household. Always make sure to talk over the installation and setup with a proper HVAC system specialist.
Keeping yourself informed is the best way to make these important investment decisions. We provide a host of different news topics so you don’t have to worry. Stay in touch by checking out our other articles today!
