The answer to this question can go either way, depending on your homes needs and your personal preferences. In our region these are the two most popular heating systems, and they both have different properties that make them vary from each other. Here is a brief description of each, and the benefits, faults, and pricing differential.
Heat Pumps
This is a popular choice in our area because a heat pump will both cool your home in the summer, and heat your home in the winter. There are some disadvantages of the heating portion though. If you want the temperature of your home to be extremely warm, past the point of what the heat pump can handle, then it will have the heat strips start to run. Not that this is a bad thing. Although, in most cases using your heat strips is more costly than running a gas furnace. However, if you keep your home at a temperature that the heat pump itself can handle, then your energy bill will be a lot cheaper than someone heating with a gas furnace. The reason it’s cheaper is a heat pump uses electricity. So, as long as the heat strips aren’t being used, in most cases you’ll have cheaper energy bills.
A heat pump when heating also doesn’t blow out hot air. Which some people prefer and others don’t. This is because a heat pump just transfers the heat. This is more energy efficient than generating it. Heat pumps are a great option in our area because for the most part we have mild temperatures. The only disadvantage is sometimes it might need help heating your home if you keep your house at a very warm temperature during the winter.
Gas Furnace
Gas furnaces are a great way to heat your home. They are the common heating system used in colder weather climates. They are also used in our region occasionally. If you use a gas furnace for your heating needs, you will need to pair it with a cooling system to use during the warmer months. Gas furnaces on average are more costly to run than heat pumps. This is due to the cost of the gas. Unless you want your house very toasty, then in most cases the gas furnace will be cheaper. Depending on the AFUE rating that your furnace has, some furnaces are more energy efficient than others.
Packaged System
Can’t choose between the two, pick both! It is an option to have a heat pump as your main source of heat, but once it can’t maintain your desired temperature then your furnace will take over. This is called a package duel fuel system and there are many options to choose from.
So the answer to which system is better to heat my home, is it’s up to you! If you’re looking to install a new system, let one our comfort specialists come to your home and explain the best heating option.
