Heat Pump vs. Furnace in St. Louis, MO
In the greater Fenton area, you have two basic ways to heat your home: a heat pump or a furnace. Both carry benefits and drawbacks, and it’s not always easy to know which one is the right choice for your heating and cooling needs. If you’re trying to decide between the two, here’s a closer look at what you should know about each one.
Not sure whether a heat pump or furnace is right for you? Contact Metro Heating & Cooling at (314) 626-5828 or online for expert advice
Heat Pump Benefits
A heat pump is a very efficient way to heat your home. It uses the heat energy in the air outside to heat your home using the principle of heat transfer. This is far easier and requires less energy than creating heat in a furnace. You can save substantially on heating expenses as a result.
Not only that, but heat pumps do not combust, so they cannot produce CO. This protects your family from the dangers of CO poisoning. They also circulate air with natural humidity, which improves the indoor air quality and comfort of your home.
Finally, heat pump installation is easier and more cost-effective than furnace installation if no heating system is present, because furnaces require ventilation that is costly to install.
Heat Pump Drawbacks
No heating solution is perfect, and heat pumps do have some drawbacks to consider. These include:
- The air blowing out feels cooler than the air blowing from a furnace.
- The system will need a backup furnace when the temperatures drop below freezing.
- The unit costs more than a furnace to purchase.
For many area homeowners, these drawbacks are worthwhile considering the energy efficiency of a heat pump.
Furnace Benefits
If you choose to heat your home with a furnace, you will enjoy a number of benefits. First, the overall cost of the unit itself will be less than the cost of a heat pump. If the ventilation is already in place, then the furnace is cheaper.
When you feel air coming from your registers while running a furnace, it will feel warm and comfortable. While the temperature inside the home is similar from both systems, the air itself blows out warmer.
Furnaces do last slightly longer than heat pumps, typically. They also have fewer mechanical parts, and thus are at less of a risk of breakdowns.
Finally, furnaces are not limited when the weather gets below freezing. They provide the same reliability no matter the outside temperature.
Furnace Drawbacks
Like heat pumps, furnaces are not perfect. Some of the drawbacks include:
- Higher energy costs to run
- Dry air from the heating process.
For some area homeowners, the reliability of a furnace overshadows these potential drawbacks.
Heat Pump or Furnace—Which Is Right for You?
So, which is the right option to heat your Fenton area home? The answer depends on your goals. Are you looking for a furnace that will be as energy-efficient as possible, or do you need the lowest initial cost? Do you already have a furnace in place with the ventilation system ready to go, or are you going to need to add that to the installation cost? The answers to these will dictate your choice.
No matter which you choose, proper installation is critical. Metro Heating & Cooling offers furnace and heat pump installation services in Fenton, MO and the surrounding communities.
Contact us today or call (314) 845-5900, and let our heating and cooling experts help you decide whether a heat pump or a furnace is the right choice for your Fenton area home.