Indoor comfort is a priority all year long – winter being no exception. Should your furnace give out at 1:00 AM on the coldest night of the season, you’ll want more than a few extra blankets to keep you warm; you’ll want your furnace repaired, pronto.
But what if your furnace is nearing the end of its expected lifespan and you’re done spending money on repairs that don’t help much? The truth is, the right time to choose the right type of replacement heating system is before yours stops working.
With a little forethought, for example, you might learn that a heat pump is the way to go – as in, goodbye furnace!
Here are a few key differences.
A furnace generates heat. A heat pump transfers heat.
A gas furnace burns combustible fuel – whether propane or gas – to generate heat. An electric furnace blows air over a hot element, much like a hair dryer. A heat pump, however, draws air from outdoors, absorbs it via pressurized refrigerant lines, and transfers it indoors.
A heat pump requires less space than a furnace.
Since the heat pump’s air handler – the indoor component – does not burn a combustible fuel or generate heat, it doesn’t need a safety clearance. A furnace, on the other hand, requires a 30-inch clearance on all sides to comply with local building and fire safety codes.
Which one is quieter?
That’s pretty much a toss-up. If you’re in a room where the outdoor unit sits next to the wall and windows, you’ll still get a lot of outdoor noise. However, the indoor air handler part of a heat pump is generally quieter than single-stage gas furnaces. A lot depends on where the gas furnace is located, as well.
Unlike a furnace, a heat pump can heat and cool your home.
A furnace has one job – to heat your home. A heat pump, however, provides the convenience of heating and cooling from a single, easy-to-maintain system. This is a great option for homeowners who would otherwise need to purchase a separate central air system.
Whether you choose a furnace or a heat pump, both should be professionally sized and installed.
There’s more to the comparison and we’d be happy to explain it all to you during an in-home heating and cooling analysis. That way, we can help you decide which option suits you best. Contact us today to schedule service and take one step closer to improved indoor comfort.