When determining how to heat your home, most people choose between heat pumps and furnaces. While both systems provide their own lists of benefits, they operate completely differently. Understanding the key differences between heat pumps and furnaces can help you make an informed decision about which type of home heating system is right for you.
Furnaces Generate Heat
There are many types of furnaces, including electric models, but all use some type of fuel to create heat. That heat then transfers to your home’s air through a heat exchanger and circulates throughout your home. The most common furnaces are natural gas, propane and electric, but there are also some solar models on the market.
Heat Pumps Transfer Heat
Unlike furnaces, heat pumps don’t generate heat. Rather, they act much like an air conditioner and transfer heat using refrigerant. In the case of a heat pump, it absorbs heat from the air outside your home and then transfers it to the air inside your home.
Heating Efficiency
The efficiency standard for furnaces is how much heat it generates compared to how much it loses through exhaust, known as the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency). The most efficient furnaces have an AFUE rating of around 98%. Heat pumps use the HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) to rate their efficiency. This compares the heating output compared to the electricity it consumes.
Generally speaking, heat pumps will cost less to heat your home in moderate climates like Oakdale. However, heat pumps lose their efficiency when temperatures become frigid. If you live in an area that frequently experiences these frigid temperatures, a furnace may cost less to heat your home effectively.
When homeowners around Oakdale want trusted HVAC service, they turn to the award-winning team at Airvengers, LLC. Our NATE-certified technicians provide heating and AC installation, maintenance and repair, including heat pumps, along with indoor air quality solutions, duct cleaning and thermostat and whole-house fan installations. Call to schedule a consultation with one of our expert installers to explore whether a heat pump is the right solution for your home.
