Which Is Better For Your Home: Heat Pump Vs Furnace?

Which Is Better For Your Home:

Heat Pump vs Furnace? 

Furnace

A furnace works by using a fuel source, most commonly natural gas, the light a burner in a combustion chamber. Using either a pilot light or an electronic ignition, when you turn your heating system to on or set it to ignite at a specific temperature, the flame creates heat and blows the hot air throughout your home.

Furnaces are made up of four main parts:

1. A burner that burns fuel
2. Heat exchangers that transfer heat
3. Blower fan to distribute the heat
4. Flue to vent gas by-products



Here are some of the biggest pros and cons of furnaces.

Pros:

• Heat homes rapidly
• Longer lifespan (20-30 years)
• Typically needs less maintenance

Cons:

• Only provides heat
• Some noise as air moves through the ducts
• Can provide uneven heating
• Requires a separate air conditioning system for cooling

Heat Pump

A heat pump does not require fuel to generate heat. Instead, it absorbs the heat from the outside air. Using a cycle of evaporation and condensation, it pumps the refrigerant between indoor and outdoor coils to heat the air before dispersing it. It transfers heat between locations.

Heat pumps are made up of these main parts:

1. The outdoor unit, including a condenser coil
2. An indoor air handler, including an evaporator coil and blower motor
3. The line set which connects the two units and holds the refrigerant
4. A reversing valve that enables the system to switch between heating and cooling

Here are some of the biggest pros and cons of heat pumps.

Pros:

• Can provide heating and cooling
• More energy-efficient
• Don’t produce greenhouse gas emissions
• Quiet operation

Cons:

• Shorter lifespan (10-15 years)
• Heat pumps can struggle on extremely cold days, requiring supplemental system may be needed for heating
• Requires indoor and outdoor unit, taking up more space
• Warms more slowly

If you don’t have ducts in your home, one option includes ductless mini-splits. These are best used for replacing wall heaters, baseboard heat, or windows AC units. They work best in single rooms or smaller homes. To provide whole-house heating, you would need multiple units working together in zones.

Ductless units suffer less heat loss because they’re delivering the heat directly from the unit rather than transporting through ductwork. However, they can be significantly higher in cost to buy and install. They do tend to produce heat at much lower temperatures than traditional heat pumps.

What Temperature Is A Heat Pump Not Effective?

Heat pumps are more popular in locations that have moderate climates. That’s because they don’t work as well when the temperature gets below freezing. Once the air reaches 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit, heat pumps can struggle to keep up with the heating demands. The colder it is, the less heat there is in the outside air. As temps get lower, the heat pump has to use more energy to produce heat, which can also drive up your utility bill.



Many people in colder climates will pair their heat pump with a secondary heating source which can take over when the temperature drops too low.

Furnace vs Heat Pump

There is another option in the great furnace vs heat pump debate: a heat pump furnace combo. It’s a way to get the best of both worlds using two fuel sources. The heat pump produces heat for your home until the temperatures start to drop too low for the heat pump to heat efficiently. When that happens, the system switches over to natural gas to provide sufficient heat.

Should I Replace My Gas Furnace With A Heat Pump?

Heat pumps will cost more than either a furnace or an air conditioning system. However, a heat pump can provide both heating and cooling which makes it less expensive than having to buy a furnace and an A/C solution.

One other thing to take into consideration is the experience. A gas furnace provides heat more quickly. It feels warmer when the air comes out. A heat pump will take longer to heat. Some people feel the air coming out is cooler although it does heat your home.

If you have an older furnace, switching to either a heat pump or a modern furnace should save you money on your utility bills. Today’s appliances are significantly more energy-efficient.

Which Is Better For Your Home: Heat Pump vs Furnace?

Perhaps the biggest factor in deciding whether to invest in a heat pump or furnace will be the climate where you live. If the temperatures rarely get below freezing, a heat pump is an affordable solution. If you live in a place where the temperatures do get into the single digits regularly, a furnace or a heat pump furnace combination is likely your best option.

You’ll also need to consider installation costs, energy costs, and maintenance. For many, the decision often comes down to personal preference.