If you’re currently considering replacing your heating system, and you’re weighing choices between getting a furnace and a heat pump, you’ll have plenty of factors to consider. We can’t give you a single answer on a blog post, but we can shed some light on several of the considerations. Before you make a decision, you’ll want to consult with us so we can give you expert advice. (After all, you’ll need us to install the new system, so have us there from the beginning!)
Below we’ve listed some pros and cons of installing a heat pump or furnace. Some of these factors will have greater weight with you than others, and that’s one of the reasons you’ll want our professionals guiding you.
The Furnace
A furnace is the most common type of heating system. Most furnaces either run from natural gas or electricity.
- Pros: Furnaces are flexible installations; a good fit can be found for almost any home. Gas furnaces are popular thanks to their high heating output, speed, and inexpensive fuel source. Electric furnaces cost more to run but they are less expensive to initially install, and they can work for almost any home—no gas line necessary. Furnaces can sometimes last up to 20 years.
- Cons: For homes without a gas connection, an electric furnace is a less attractive choice for heating. The cost of electricity can make heating a home with an electric furnace pricey. Some homeowners are concerned about using a natural gas furnace because of the potential hazards of gas leaks.
The Heat Pump
A heat pump resembles an air conditioner, except it can reverse the direction it operates so that it either removes heat from the house (cooling mode) or brings heat into the house (heating mode).
- Pros: This is a great two-in-one system that takes care of comfort all year. If you currently have an electric furnace and air conditioner, you can replace both with a heat pump, which is a cost-effective and convenient way to have annual comfort. Heat pumps have high energy efficiency in heating mode and cost less to run than electric furnaces. They’re also safe: the exterior of a heat pump doesn’t even warm up in heating mode.
- Cons: For a heat pump to be worth the investment, it must replace both the AC and heater. A heat pump is more expensive than a standard AC or furnace, so it has to do both heating and cooling to be a cost-effective installation. If you plan to keep your current air conditioner for a few more years, you’re probably better replacing the furnace with another furnace and leaving the AC in place.
Call Us for Heating Info You Can Use
You can trust all your HVAC services in Oregon City, OR with Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning: we’ve been family-owned from the beginning and have been in business for more than two decades. We are NATE, EPA, and ACCA-certified, so you can trust our technicians to know the best way to provide your house with comfort combined with energy efficiency.
Schedule heating services with Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning in Greater Portland. “Connecting People to Comfort!”