Are you curious about the difference between a heat pump and a furnace? Each of these heating systems has its advantages, but it’s vital to know which one to choose based on your situation.
If you’re confused about which one to choose, keep reading because, in this article, we are going head-to-head between a heat pump vs. furnace.
What is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a system that is installed on the outside of your home that can provide either cooling or heating for your home.
Heat pumps operate solely on electric and not on any fossil fuel.
How Does It Work?
Like an air conditioner, a heat pump pulls the heat from the air in your home and pushes out to an outdoor location. This cools your home down.
When used in heat mode, it pulls warm air from outside and transfers it indoors. A heat pump uses refrigerant to absorb and release heat as it circulates.
What Are the Advantages of a Heat Pump?
The best thing about a heat pump is it acts as a heating and cooling system. This means you don’t need to worry about buying separate systems for your home.
They are environmentally friendly because they only run on electricity. Heat pumps don’t expel harmful fumes produced by fossil fuels.
Heat pumps in Phoenix are great becuase they are perfect for the for moderately cold outdoor temperatures.
What is a Furnace
A furnace is a heating system that runs on natural gas, such as propane. The gas ignites while a draft fan sends air to the furnace’s burners of the furnace to be warmed up. Once this air is warmed up, a blower directs the air through the ducts to warm the home.
Since a furnace produces combustion gas waste, a flue is used to collect this gas and safely redirects it outside of the home.
Unlike a heat pump, a furnace is a heating system only. There is no cooling mode on a furnace.
What Are the Advantages of a Furnace
A furnace will warm a house more efficiently since natural gas ignites cleaner and hotter. A furnace is great if you live in freezing temperatures or you if you want your home warmed up quicker.
A furnace uses natural gas, which is the least expensive fossil fuel. This means you can heat your home quickly while saving on your monthly heating bill.
Which One Should You Choose?
When it comes to the age-old heat pump vs. furnace question, you’ll need to dive into the pros and cons for both and see what works best for your situation. If you live in a colder climate and want your home warmed up quickly, a furnace would be a solid option. If you live in a milder climate where outside temps don’t get so cold, a heat pump will suit you better.
Not only will a heat pump give you heat when you need it, but you’ll also get efficient cooling on those hot summer days as well.
If you still need help deciding which unit you should get, contact us, and one of our friendly team members will be happy to help you.
Time to repair or replace a heating system? Contact the Surprisingly Affordable HVAC experts at Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling and schedule your service or replacement today ~ 480-359-7141.
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