The Differences Between Heat Pumps and Furnaces

Two of your top options for heating your home are a furnace or a heat pump, and knowing which one to install isn’t always as easy as it may seem.

Read on to learn the difference between a heat pump and a furnace and how to pick the right unit for your home.

What are heat pumps?

A heat pump uses the outside air to heat a home in the winter and cool it in the summer. Instead of heat generators, heat pumps are heat transmitters constantly moving warm air to where it’s needed or not needed. In the winter, heat pumps absorb energy from outdoor air or the ground and distribute it throughout your home. In the summer, they remove heat from inside to cool down your space.

What are furnaces?

Furnaces convert fuel to heat and distribute it throughout your home as part of your central heating and cooling system. Depending on the type of furnace you have, it can be powered by electricity, gas or oil.

What’s the difference between a heat pump and a furnace?

Besides the method used to heat a home, there are quite a few differences between furnaces and heat pumps. Here are a few of the key differences:

• Installation cost: Installation costs vary from home to home, depending on the type of furnace or heat pump you buy and the complexity involved in the installation. On average, heat pumps are quite a bit more expensive to install than a furnace. Heat pumps range from $4,000 to $8,000 for installation, while furnaces cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.
• Energy efficiency: The higher initial investment for a heat pump can pay off in the long run. Heat pumps can transfer 300 percent more energy than they Because they’re powered by electricity instead of fuel, they can be cheaper to run than a gas or oil furnace.
• Cold-weather effectiveness: The biggest drawback of heat pumps is that they get less effective at heating a home as the outside temperatures get colder. If the temperature is below freezing, a heat pump has a hard time keeping your home warm. Furnaces, on the other hand, keep your home toasty regardless of the temperature outside.
• Lifespan and maintenance: You’ll want to remember your unit’s lifespan and maintenance requirements when picking between a heat pump and a furnace. Furnaces last about 20 years before they need to be replaced, while heat pumps have a lifespan of about 15 years. Furnaces also tend to require a little less maintenance than a heat pump because they have fewer mechanical parts.

Invest in a new heating system today

If you’re still stuck wondering how to pick between a heat pump and a furnace, then talk to our team at Cassel Air Conditioning & Heating Service. Our professionals only install the highest-quality heating systems, and we can recommend the right unit for your home. Give us a call today to learn more about your heating options or to get a quote for our services.

Categorised in: Furnace Repair, Heat Pumps

This post was written by Writer