However if your home requires cooling a furnace will need to be matched with an air conditioner.
Air source heat pump vs natural gas.
If you use natural gas or propane to heat your home in winter you have a gas furnace.
During the summer months your heat pump can also act as an air conditioner making this a more versatile product compared to a furnace.
Why choose a heat pump over a gas furnace.
A heat pump uses a refrigerant to transfer heat from other sources such as the outside air into the home.
This heating operating cost comparison illustration puts into perspective the relative operating costs for various types of heating system options including oil propane electric and natural gas as well as show how air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps can save you money.
A heat pump is a more complex device if compared with a boiler but the main goal behind the functioning of a pump is more or less the same namely heat generation.
Select a heat pump with a demand defrost control.
In warmer climates seer is more important than hspf.
If you live in the south where winter temperatures may only reach 40 to 60 degrees then a heat pump is the best fit for your home.
It does not use a fuel to create heat and so is much more efficient that other options including natural gas heaters.
All three have their pros and cons.
In terms of air quality heat pumps don t produce co so you don t have to worry about carbon monoxide leaks.
A water heat pump will only use around 190 worth of energy per year almost half of what a natural gas heater must use.
Altogether your home comfort costs may be less with a heat pump.
Gas furnace come down to where you live.
Gas furnaces are efficient effective and popular.
Depending on where you live the choice of gas vs electricity based on cost is driven by prevailing electric and gas costs for residential use.
In colder climates focus on getting the highest hspf feasible.
Here in the atlanta area most people select one of three different options.
Let s have a look at the differences.
Compare the pros and cons.
The heat pump s operation is based on absorbing and transferring a certain amount of thermal energy from a low grade source air or underground layers to a heating element pump.
A heat pump can do both.
If you live in an area where electricity costs less than gas then a heat pump is also the better option.
Although your actual energy costs will vary these.
To choose an air source electric heat pump look for the energy star label.
Compare costs efficiency installation operating costs and more for electric heat pumps vs gas heating to determine which hvac system is best for your home.
Electric resistance heat has a cop of 1 while a heat pumps has a cop of 1 4 low temperature say 17ºf to 5 at say 50ºf depending on the temperature of the source air.
Plus heat pumps circulate humid air so it won t dry out your skin like heat from a furnace can.
Homeadvisor s complete heat pump or forced air furnace guide defines the differences between electric and gas heat pumps and gas electric propane and oil furnaces.
Heat pump vs furnace.
Installation cost generally the initial cost and installation of a gas furnace is cheaper than a heat pump.
