It’s & We’re Always Open!
While both heat pumps and furnaces warm up indoor air effectively, they differ in efficiency, heating capabilities, use of space, up-front costs, and maintenance requirements. Here’s how to pick the right system based on your unique home circumstances and air conditioning goals.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is a type of heating system that uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. For instance, if you want to warm your room, this system will extract heat from the outdoor air and pump it into your space.
How They Work
The core of a heat pump is a chemical known as a refrigerant. A refrigerant is a compound that can easily change its state from liquid to vapor (gas) and vice versa in the presence or absence of heat. This characteristic enables it to absorb and release heat into the air effortlessly.
According to the laws of physics, heat will always move to a cool area until equilibrium is reached. Heat pumps are designed to exploit this principle fully. Even if the temperature outside is as cold as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, the refrigerant circulating through the coils of the outdoor unit will extract the little heat available and make use of it.
A compressor in the outdoor unit increases pressure on the refrigerant, raising its temperature further and turning it into a hot gas. The hot gas travels through the refrigerant tubing to the indoor unit. Once inside, it circulates through the evaporator coils, where it encounters the cool indoor air and transfers its heat to it. This cycle will repeat itself until your indoor temperature reaches your target thermostat settings.
Benefits of a Heat Pump Over a Furnace
Installing a heat pump has some advantages over using a furnace to heat your home. They include the following.
Better Efficiency
Heat pumps are the most affordable way to warm a home. These systems are up to 400% efficient, compared to furnaces, which hover around 90% to 95% efficiency. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even predicts that you can save up to 75% of your yearly energy costs by switching to a heat pump.
The reason behind this efficiency lies in their mode of operation. Unlike other heating systems that have to generate heat for warming indoor air, heat pumps simply move heat to where it is needed. Electricity is only used to facilitate this transfer and to power fans and control systems.
Improved Safety and Eco-Friendliness
Homeowners with gas furnaces are susceptible to natural gas leaks and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is fatal. It is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and insidious (meaning that it doesn’t irritate). It quietly wreaks havoc on the body by binding to the red blood cells that carry oxygen, leading to dizziness, confusion, headaches, suffocation, and even death. Natural gas, on the other hand, is highly flammable. A leak can cause potential fires, and the gas itself is also poisonous.
With a heat pump, you can avoid all these risks. You should only be vigilant about refrigerant leaks, which seldom happen when a system is regularly inspected and serviced.
Zoning Capabilities
Ductless heat pumps offer the advantage of zoning, which allows you to control the temperature in different sections of your home independently. This means you can customize your heating to the specific needs of each space, thus improving comfort and energy efficiency.
For example, you can set the unit in the basement to provide just enough warmth to prevent the pipes from freezing. Units in unused areas such as the guest room can be turned off or set to minimal heating, while living spaces can be kept at a comfortable temperature.
Year-Round Comfort
Besides heating, heat pumps can also cool your indoor spaces. They have a component known as a reversing valve that can change the direction of flow of the refrigerant.
During cooling, the refrigerant will extract heat from the indoor air and expel it outdoors. This means that with a heat pump, you won’t need to invest in an air conditioner. You can use the same system all year.
Drawbacks of a Heat Pump
Heat pumps become less efficient when the outdoor temperature drops below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Homeowners in northern regions like New Jersey must invest in a backup heat source, especially for months like December and January.
The commonly used supplementary heating systems are gas furnaces or electric resistance strips with smart thermostats. A technician will program the smart thermostat to automatically switch to the backup heating source when the outdoor temperature falls below a certain threshold, ensuring a continuous supply of warm air.
Furnaces
A furnace is a heating system that burns natural gas or propane to create heat, which it then distributes throughout the living space via ducts. It is one of the most reliable heating systems you can install in the northern regions of America.
How They Work
When the temperature of your home drops below the target settings, the thermostat will send a signal to the furnace to activate. A special valve inside the furnace will allow natural gas or propane to flow through to the burner, where it is ignited, producing a hot blue flame. This flame heats the furnace’s heat exchanger, a series of metal tubes that transfer heat to the air.
Once the air is heated, a blower fan pushes it out through the ducts to your various rooms. The thermostat will continuously monitor the temperature of your indoor air and turn off the furnace when the target setting is reached.
Benefits of a Furnace Over a Heat Pump
Installing furnaces for your home heating offers greater reliability during harsh, cold winter conditions. Outdoor temperatures do not affect its performance, which means that it will still provide consistent heating even when the temperature drops below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Modern furnaces are also efficient in cold weather. While heat pump efficiency drops to 30% or lower in cold winter months, a furnace will maintain its 90% to 95% efficiency throughout the season.
Moreover, furnaces are generally more durable. They typically have a life span of 15 to 20 years when properly maintained. A heat pump can serve you for 10 to 15 years in the northern regions. The temperatures here are too harsh for them to operate efficiently and effectively for longer periods.
Drawbacks of a Furnace
Furnaces, particularly gas furnaces, pose a high risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion in the burner. However, modern systems now come with safety features, like automatic shut-off valves and pressure regulators, that help minimize these risks. You must also install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Also, furnaces are generally less efficient than heat pumps in the long term. The most efficient furnace you can install is 98.5% AFUE. Heat pumps can be up to four times more efficient than the most efficient furnaces today.
Trust Your Local Experts
Settling on which system is best for you is an intricate decision that requires professional input. If you live anywhere in the vicinity of Chatham, NJ, let our heating services professionals at Pipe Works Services guide you through the process of selecting the right heating system for your home. Once you make a decision, our technicians will offer a wide array of other services, including installation, maintenance, and repairs. Call us at Pipe Works Services today for either heat pump or furnace installation.
