Heat Pump vs Gas Furnace – Which is Better for Your Home or Business?

With the recent cold snap, were you warm enough? Are you considering upgrading your heating system? Heat pumps and furnaces both heat your home, but in different ways. Deciding whether a heat pump or furnace is better for your situation depends on several factors, including the size of the location, features, energy efficiency and more.

Here are some of the pros and cons to help you decide.

Conventional Furnace

The standard gas furnace works with your duct system to blow warm air throughout your home or business. This is called a forced-air system. To generate heat, the furnace burns fuel (usually natural gas, but sometimes fuel oil).

Furnace Pros

Reliability, durability and performance. Today’s furnaces are built to be energy efficient (natural gas prices can be cheaper than electricity), They are built to last, and will last longer than heat pumps. They will also heat your home comfortably no matter how cold it gets. Heat pumps don’t work as well in very low temperatures.

Furnace Cons

There is a risk of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning. Today’s furnaces are built to be safer and more efficient, and routine maintenance and inspections reduce any risk.

Efficiency – heat pumps may be more energy efficient, saving you more on your energy bills.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps move the air from the outside into your home, and vice versa. Heat pumps, unlike furnaces, also provide cooling. In the warmer months, heat pumps pull the warm air out of your home, and in the colder months they reverse the cycle,

Heat Pump Pros

Heat pumps don’t burn fuel, so they are more energy efficient than furnaces. They also provide cooling in the summer. Heat pumps are less expensive to install, and since they don’t burn gas, there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Heat Pump Cons

Less effective in cold weather. Since a heat pump only moves air, it doesn’t have the heating power of a furnace and doesn’t function as well in extreme cold. Heat pumps may require supplemental heating during cold snaps, either from space heaters, fireplaces or a gas furnace.

Also, heat pumps have two separate units, so may require more maintenance than furnaces. The heat pump sits outside while the air handler is inside.

How to Decide

Your best bet is to consult with a professional HVAC company like Climatemp. We can run the numbers for you to help you make the best decision based on your needs and budget. Call us today at 251-968-6006. We provide heat pump installation and furnace installation as well as repair services to clients throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties, including Mobile, Saraland, Summerdale, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and surrounding areas.