Who’s a homeowner that does not want the best for one’s home? No one. Therefore, it is just ideal and understandable for a homeowner to gather information about the product or equipment that they are eyeing out.
One of the necessities in our home is a heating system, wherein there’s a significant 45 percent of energy costs concluded as the largest expense in consuming the energy of one’s household. Now, if you’re stuck between heat pumps vs furnaces then you are at the right place to differentiate the two. Here are the information and differences that you need to know before buying one.
Heat Pumps vs. Furnaces in Heat Production
Heat production is our main concern here, thus, let’s differentiate the heat production between heat pumps and furnaces. To start with, many people are more familiar with furnaces than the heat pumps. Furnaces generate heat through burning natural gas or oil, providing maximum heat with minimum fuel usage which distributes heat inside your home.
On the other hand, heat pumps do not generate heat from a fuel source. Instead, it transfers outdoor air to the inside with the use of electricity and refrigerant. In addition to this, they also double as an air conditioner during summer to cool down your house.
Seasonal Effectiveness
There is a difference between furnaces and heat pumps. Furnaces are good only during the heating season. They are known in delivering an impressive heat level, to keep your family cozy and warm if serious cold hits.
In contrast, heat pumps can heat and cool, meaning to say you can use them for all seasons. You may use it to cool down your home in the summer during the scorching heat of the sun and use it to warm your house during the cold winter season. In the past, heat pumps are just known to provide moderate cooling and heating power, but because of the new innovations, it can now keep you comfortable even more extreme temperatures
Energy Efficiency
Both heat pumps and heat furnaces offer different energy efficiency levels. Heat pumps are generally more efficient than furnaces. If you try to build a more sustainable home, a heat pump can be an intelligent option. Heat pumps, however, depend on electricity and it usually requires oil or natural gas.
On the other hand, furnaces such as the gas furnace measure efficiency through checking the efficiency ratings of the system that you are considering. The older furnaces might be notorious for being inefficient, however, new technology has backed it up which has resulted in impressive rates up to 98 percent efficiency.
Indoor Air Quality Improvement
Maintaining good indoor air quality is affected by your heating system thus it is important to understand what each system can do. There are many heat pumps that offer dehumidification options to maintain a healthy moisture level, which is crucial in some cold areas.
Furnaces on the other hand, typically offer basic air filtration, if you want to have additional air quality capabilities, look for those cutting-edge models.
Noise Level
Between the two, furnaces are usually considered as the louder one than the heat pump. However, there are some models of furnaces that was designed to be much quieter than the traditional ones. On the other hand, heat pumps are known for their quiet operation and the newest innovation offers better noise insulation than before.
Installation Costs
Although heat pumps use less energy and reduce energy costs in the long run, initial installation costs tend to be higher. According to Sinclaire Home Services, a Franklin MA heating repair company, there are several factors that may affect the total cost of getting a heat pump including the size of your home and the pump’s rating. The cost of a heat pump itself is more than that of a furnace, but because it does two things, you will not have to pay separate installation costs for an air conditioner.
Level of Warmth and Comfort
Undeniably, gas furnaces have the biggest advantage in keeping your home as warm and comfortable as you want it to be. On the contrary, heat pumps use the outside air and generally do not provide the same heat, especially in extremely cold conditions, even if they do the job in milder conditions.
System Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is important for all heating systems no matter which type you choose. Thus, for furnace what you need to do is to schedule annual maintenance. For the heat pumps, two maintenance sessions each year is recommended since it provides both heating and cooling.
Takeaway
Choosing the best heating system for your home is a difficult decision to make. However, by knowing this information about heat pumps vs. furnaces, surely you won’t have any difficulty in picking out what’s best for your home. In addition, you should know that the key factor that should be used in your decision is the climate and the region you live in so that the equipment is able to cater to your needs.
