Furnaces vs Heat pumps?
Find the right heating system for your home.
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Having a reliable source for home heating is crucial to staying safe and comfortable throughout the winter months in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. An HVAC system can last for up to 15-20 years, and if you’re in need of a replacement it’s important to compare your options carefully.
Two of the most common heating systems available today are heat pumps and furnaces, both of which have their own advantages. At Princeton Air, we have over 50 years of experience with heating & cooling systems. In this guide, we’ll explore the differences between the furnaces and heat pumps systems so you can find the best HVAC system for your home’s needs.
Furnaces
Furnaces typically use electricity or burn natural gas, oil, or propane to generate heat, and are the most common type of heating system. A furnace is connected to your home’s central duct system, which will distribute warm air throughout your living spaces when it’s needed.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps use electricity to extract heat from the air and move it either in or out of your home instead of creating it, and can both heat and cool your home. Heat pumps come in a wide variety of options and can connect to your home’s ductwork, or in any room that needs it with ductless mini splits.
Furnaces vs Heat Pumps: What You Need to Know
When considering a new heating system for your home, there are a few key factors to consider, including energy efficiency, cost, safety, and lifespan.
Energy Efficiency
Because they move heat instead of generating it, heat pumps are some of the most energy efficient HVAC systems available today. While newer models of furnaces are more efficient than their predecessors, they still don’t compare to the energy savings that heat pumps can provide. In fact, the Department of Energy reports that heat pumps can cut your heating bills by up to 65% when compared to electric resistance heating, like electric baseboard heaters.
Cost
Furnaces are usually the more cost-effective heating system when compared to heat pumps, though the price can greatly vary depending on the model you choose. However, heat pumps are often eligible for higher incentives and rebates to make them more affordable. Additionally, when it comes to operating costs, heat pumps are less expensive to run because of their unmatched efficiency.
Safety
Heat pumps don’t use fossil fuel combustion to keep your home warm throughout the winter, making them a safer choice for home heating. Combustion furnaces can release harmful contaminants, like carbon monoxide, into your living spaces and can create several indoor air quality issues.
Lifespan
Furnaces tend to have a longer lifespan than heat pumps, which can last up to 20 years with proper maintenance. However, heat pumps can be used as both a furnace and air conditioner and have a lifespan of about 15 years.
Princeton Air: Your Local Heating System Experts
We install a wide variety of furnace and heat pump systems from leading brands like Trane and Mitsubishi Electric. In addition to ducted & ductless heat pumps, we also install geothermal heat pumps that are some of the most innovative and efficient heating and cooling systems available. As a whole-home contractor in Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties in New Jersey and Bucks County in PA, we take our work seriously and will ensure your new HVAC system is properly installed and ready to keep you comfortable throughout any season of the year.
