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Pros and Cons of Heat Pumps and Furnaces

When it comes to heating your home, the choice often comes down to whether you should get a heat pump or furnace. While both heat your home, they do so in very different ways. Each of these options has pros and cons.

Heat Pump

A heat pump uses electricity, but not to generate heat. It instead uses it to move heat between the outdoors and your home. Heat pumps are increasingly popular for a few reasons.

Heat Pump Pros

Unless the temperature is below freezing, heat pumps are more energy-efficient than furnaces. They’re up to 300% efficient, so you can enjoy lower energy bills in the winter. They operate more quietly than furnaces do. Additionally, a heat pump acts as an air conditioner during the summer.

Heat Pump Cons

Heat pumps produce less heat than furnaces, so they heat your home more slowly. Since they’re pulling heat from outdoors, they lose efficiency when temperatures dip below freezing. Since they use electricity, you lose your heater when there’s a power outage.

Furnace

Furnaces burn fuel to produce heat. This is usually natural gas, but they can also use oil and electricity. The four main parts of a gas furnace are a burner, heat exchanger, blower, and flue.

Furnace Pros

A gas furnace can quickly heat your home as it produces powerful heat. They don’t have many moving parts, so they need less maintenance than a heat pump. Because you only use a furnace for half the year, they last much longer than heat pumps tend to.

Furnace Cons

Furnaces are not as efficient as heat pumps, so your energy bills will be higher. They also produce carbon monoxide, which is a health hazard if it gets into your home.

Peters Associates in Philadelphia, PA, can help you decide between a heat pump and furnace. We install, repair, and tune-up heaters and air conditioners. Our other services include indoor air quality, duct cleaning, ductwork, water heaters, and smart homes. Please call today to schedule an appointment.