Which is Best: Furnace or Heat Pump?

Heat Pump vs Furnace: Pros and Cons of Both

Are you considering replacing a residential HVAC system soon? Since this is not a regular purchase, shopping around might result in information overload, with many unfamiliar titles and acronyms. This article is designed to give you information in a basic format to make the heat pump versus traditional furnace decision-making easier.

New construction or major remodeling of older residences have a few creative options, but most homes built since the 1960s were constructed with a ducted central heating and air conditioning system. Replacing an aging or failed system consists of replacing the furnace and air conditioner components of the system, using the existing ductwork for air distribution whenever possible.

There are three basic types of central HVAC systems:

• An air conditioner with a natural gas or propane-fueled furnace
• An air conditioner with an electric-powered furnace
• A heat pump system uses the same components for both cooling and heating

How Each System Works

• The common myth about air conditioning is that it cools the air since that is what we feel. However, air conditioning, refrigerators, and freezers achieve the cooling effect by removing heat. The heat is moved out of the space, using a refrigerant gas, and released outside of the house, fridge, or freezer.
• If the exhaust from burning natural gas or propane were to enter the home, it would result in asphyxiation. Therefore, the exhaust is collected in a metal chamber called a heat exchanger. The blower motor pushes air around the exchanger and carries the heat throughout the home.
• Electric furnaces push high-voltage electricity through metal elements with high resistance. Since no gas forms, when the elements begin to glow red, the blower motor pushes air directly over them and carries the heat into the home.
• A heat pump uses the components of the air conditioner and reverses the process: heat is collected from the outdoors and brought into the house. This can happen because there is more heat outdoors in the winter than we think, and the technology that collects the heat is very good.

Which system is best for you? Here are the pros and cons for each system.

Since natural gas burns very hot (about 3500⁰ F) the heat is felt very quickly and we all like instant results. However, if natural gas is not available at your location, it will not be an option. Propane, as an alternative, may also not be an option. Natural gas furnaces will convert between 85 and 98.5% of the available energy into heat, which is quite impressive. But it pales in comparison to other types of heat.

Electric furnaces can be used at any location. They produce significant heat as well, ranging between 1800⁰ F to 5400⁰ F, resulting in rapid heat distribution. Electric furnaces can capture 100% of the available energy from electricity, energy efficient, yes. But wait until you hear about heat pump technology.

Heat pumps do not create heat. They collect available heat from the environment. The average overnight temperature in our area remains around 50⁰, so there is plenty of free heat, just waiting to be transported into a home. The energy required to move heat is much less than the energy required to create heat, making heat pumps 3 to 5 times more efficient than either natural gas or electric furnaces.

Those are the basic facts about the three available systems. All three are very energy efficient—there is no bad choice. There are many features for each type of system that are worth discussing with your HVAC professional, but basic information should make the conversation comfortable.

If You Are Considering a Furnace Installation or a Heat Pump installation, Call Us Today!

Northwind Air Conditioning and Heat can help answer your heat pump vs furnace questions. Contact us and get the help you need.