Is a Heat Pump or a Furnace a Better Heating Method?

Heat pumps and furnaces are popular heating systems that can be easily confused. Choosing between them can be a daunting proposition. Run through the comparisons below to find out which one will be the better heating method for your Dayton home.

Installation Cost

Generally, gas furnaces have cheaper initial installation costs than heat pumps. However, if you’re buying a furnace with a matched air conditioner for cooling, then the total costs are likely to be higher than those of a heat pump. That’s because a heat pump can heat as well as cool your home.

Space

Furnaces can take up plenty of square footage, partly because a 30-inch clearance around the unit is required for safety purposes. The indoor air handler of a heat pump requires less space. It doesn’t burn combustible fuel or create its own heat, so it doesn’t require a safety clearance.

Energy Efficiency

Heat pumps transfer heat rather than make their own heat. Furnaces generate heat by burning fuel. Making heat is harder than transferring it, so heat pumps are more efficient than furnaces. In ideal conditions, heat pumps can transfer as much as 300% more energy than they consume.

Maintenance and Life Span

Furnaces generally last longer than heat pumps. You only use a furnace for a few months every year, so it requires less maintenance. A heat pump has more mechanical parts than a furnace, making it possible for more components to malfunction or break down.

Effectiveness in Cold Weather

A furnace can generate heat even on the coldest days. A heat pump will have a hard time keeping your house warm if the temperature outside keeps falling below freezing.

A supplemental heating system can be paired with a heat pump for use on the coldest days. If you live in a cold climate and want to use a heat pump, you could get a geothermal model, which can be much costlier to install than the standard air-to-air model.