Hello World! Welcome Friends! Winter is almost here, and if you live in a cold climate and you want to be warm and cozy inside your house, you need to prepare. In this regard, homeowners can choose between two types of heating systems, a furnace or a heat pump. It might be difficult to know which one to pick for your household. But don’t worry, below we will explain the features, pros, and cons of each option.
Both a furnace and a heat pump warm up the airflow in your home. This means that the result you get with both appliances will be the same. The actual difference between heat pump and furnace is that a furnace uses combustion while a heat pump is designed to extract heat from the outside.
Remember that it doesn’t matter which system you choose in the end, both of them need regular maintenance. Otherwise, over time, they will start malfunctioning until you have to replace them. To avoid this situation, make sure to hire a trusted company like Anderson Air in case you need repairs.
To decide which appliance will work better for your home, here is a quick breakdown of the difference between furnace and heat pump.
What is the Difference Between a Heat Pump and a Furnace?
Heat Pump
A heat pump is a part of your HVAC system that is responsible for transferring heat into your home. Usually, to achieve this, all heat pumps have a heat source. This device also has a heat reservoir which allows it to store the warm air and then push it into your house when required.
This appliance will extract heat from the outside and use electrical power and the refrigerant to warm up the air. You might be thinking that this process sounds familiar. Well, that is because heat pumps follow the same process as air conditioners but backward.
The best part about a heat pump is that you can use it during summer and winter. How is this possible? Thanks to the way this heating system was designed, it is capable of extracting heat from the outside and pushing it into your home during the cold months. But, when the environment starts warming up, it will remove the warm air from your house.
A heat pump is an ideal energy-efficient product for all homeowners that live in cities with a short winter. Other benefits you will enjoy with this heating system are that the installation cost is affordable, and while it is operating, it won’t be loud.
Pros
- Maintenance
Compared to other heating systems, a heat pump won’t need extensive regular maintenance. However, as with any appliance, to extend its lifespan you’ll need to schedule annual inspections.
- Environmentally friendly
If you are someone who likes to purchase products that don’t damage the planet, then a heat pump is perfect for you. For its process, this heating system keeps carbon emissions low. Plus, as we explained above, it is energy efficient.
- Lifespan
A heat pump will last between 12 and 15 years, but only if you schedule proper maintenance. We will recommend performing it before winter and summer. That way, you’ll ensure there is fresh or warm air available during these seasons.
Cons
- Installation
While the installation of a heat pump is affordable, the process itself is a little bit complicated. Plus, it is possible at the end you might end up spending more money on planning permissions.
- Extreme weather performance
As we explained above, a heat pump doesn’t perform well under extreme weather conditions. Plus, it can get damaged in very cold temperatures.
Furnace
A furnace is also part of your HVAC system, but instead of transferring the heat into your home, it creates it using fuel such as gas or oil. If you live in the city, chances are you have a gas furnace since you have access to the main pipelines. But, if your house is located far away, it will be better to get an oil or propane furnace because you can purchase tanks of fuel and store them in your house.
Because a furnace needs flames to create heat, it will blow much more warm air into your home compared to a heat pump. Further, the airflow will be distributed throughout your home thanks to a fan located inside of the system.
One of the advantages of purchasing a furnace is that it only has a few mechanical parts which means it also requires less maintenance compared to other heating systems. In the case when maintenance is required, and possibly repairs, there are many companies like https://www.callthegeneral.
Pros
- Saving energy
Since a furnace uses fuel to warm up the air, the process is fast and easy. That means you won’t have to spend a lot of energy on the heating system. However, remember that if you have an oil furnace, you’ll have to purchase tanks to keep it running.
- Cost
Whether you are looking to purchase your first furnace or you want to replace an old one, the cost of this appliance is affordable. The best part is that the installation is easy. Plus, in case you need any repairs, you won’t have to spend a lot of money.
- Even temperature
One thing you always need to consider when it comes to purchasing a heating system is whether it is efficient enough to maintain the same temperature throughout the house. Luckily, a furnace can achieve that goal.
Cons
- Risks
Because a furnace needs fuel to heat the air inside your home, this means it can create various risks, such as explosions. Or even damage your health if there is carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Noisy
A furnace will need fans to distribute the air throughout your home. As a consequence, this heating system will be noisy compared to a heat pump.
Final Thoughts
As we find out in this article, the main difference between heat pump and furnace is the process they use to heat the air in your home. However, both appliances will ensure you have warm air for the wintertime. When it comes to choosing the perfect device for your home, we advise you to look at our list of pros and cons to help you decide.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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