If your heating system is showing signs of wear and tear and needs repair from an HVAC repair company in Gilbert, you have a couple of options when it comes to replacing your old unit.
Your first option is a traditional furnace, which you might have installed in the home now. Furnaces are responsible for heating the home using fuel and are controlled by a thermostat. The drawback is that they consume a lot of energy.
The second option is a heat pump, which is designed to keep the home’s temperature comfortable and consistent. In the winter, warm air is brought in, sucked into the heat pump and circulated throughout the home. In the summer, warm air is pushed back outdoors.
Since winters don’t get particularly cold in Arizona, heat pumps have been a popular choice for dessert homeowners. But even in cold-weather states, air-source heat pumps are becoming more common due to their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
In this post, we will explore the major differences between furnaces and heat pumps and which one is best for your Gilbert home.
How are Furnaces and Heat Pumps Different?
Furnaces and heat pumps have the same goal of keeping the home warm and comfy during the winter, but they achieve so differently.
- Heat pumps don’t manufacture the heat they distribute. Instead, the heat is found from the outside climate and brought into the home. Furnaces, on the other hand, generate their own heat using oil, gas or electricity, which is more necessary in cold-weather climates.
- Furnaces blow out heat, which can create hotspots in the home. Heat pumps do a better job of maintaining an even temperature. Some people prefer the warm blasts of air, while others prefer a more steady temperature.
- Some people don’t like the lukewarm temperature that they get with an air-source heat pump. On average, heat pumps deliver air between 90 and 100 degrees, whereas furnaces get up to 120 to 125 degrees.
Is One Better than the Other?
There’s a reason why HVAC repair services in Gilbert offer both furnaces and heat pumps – some homeowners prefer one over the other! Pros and cons exist for each heating system, so it’s difficult to generalize and say that one is better than the other. Your best bet is to speak with a professional who can provide you with more personalized information.
Before you schedule an appointment, here are a few basic things to know that might make your decision easier.
- Can you add a gas line? If you can’t add a gas line to your home, then the choice is an easy one: get a heat pump. A heat pump uses electricity. If you can add a line, you’ll need to factor in this cost.
- How warm do you want your home? We mentioned above that heat pumps feel more lukewarm, which will be more uncomfortable as the temperatures drop. This isn’t common in the desert, but still, something to consider.
- What are energy costs in your area? You’ll see a lot of generalizations regarding the costs of heat pumps and furnaces, but the real answer comes down to what you pay for gas and electricity. These rates vary from month to month, and heat pumps will get expensive if they need to pull air from a secondary heating unit. In general, though, heat pumps can save upwards of 30% off your electric bill.
Before you make an investment in a new heating system, give Bruce’s Air Conditioning and Heating a call! Our licensed and certified technicians are more than happy to provide you with a solid recommendation based on your needs and budget.
Photo Credit: Franco Giovanella
If you live in an area with relatively moderate winters, you have a number of practical options to consider for your home heating system. Top among these options is the heat pump, a device that draws heat from other sources instead of generating it internally like a furnace.
In most cases, heat pumps transfer heat to your household’s interior through a connected network of ducts, which run through unfinished indoor space to room openings called registers.
Since heat pumps don’t generate their own heat, they can potentially save you a lot of money in energy costs. In fact, in a best case scenario, you can save up to 75 percent on your heating bills if you rely on a heat pump instead of a traditional furnace or electric furnace.
During cold winter months, you are perfectly aware that heating costs make up the bulk of your electricity or gas bill.
Air leaks in homes can happen just about anywhere. The best way to detect them is to contact your local energy company and ask them to send a consultant to your home to perform a heat loss audit (this service may be offered for free). If they can’t or won’t send someone you can always hire a private home energy auditor, who will most likely do it for a relatively small fee.
Your heat pump can freeze up any time of the year, not just during the cold winter months. Under normal operation, frost develops on the outdoor coils. When the frost begins to build up, the unit automatically shifts into defrost mode to melt the frost.
Regular, as well as annual HVAC maintenance is necessary for keeping HVAC systems functioning effectively and efficiently. Discover the regular maintenance that air conditioning and heating systems need.
