Heat Pumps

The air conditioning unit in your home works by removing heat from your home and moving it outside. Heat pumps do the same but in reverse, removing heat from outside and moving inside. Heat pump systems require the installation of an outside unit, similar in size and appearance to the one you have now for your air conditioning, and an inside unit known as an air handler.

The air handler acts as an evaporator coil and transfers heat into your home. The air handler moves the air inside your home over a set of coils, transferring the heat from the coils into the air. Also contained in the air handler are a set of heat strips, which when powered, heat up the air similarly to how the coils in your toaster heat up food. The air handler also contains a fan to move the air throughout your home.

Heat Pump Pros and Cons

• Pros
  • No Fuel or Burning
    • No combustion takes place inside the air handler, so there is no risk of carbon monoxide leakage.
    • Heat Pumps do not require a gas line installation if your home doesn’t already have one.
  • No Dry Skin
    • Heat pumps produce less intense heat than furnaces and do not dry out the air as much, which means you’ll be cozy and comfortable inside.
  • More Efficient at Moderate Temperatures
    • Heat pump systems are much more efficient on moderately cold days than furnaces.

• Cons
  • Heat Strip Costs
    • On days where the heat pump alone cannot warm your home, the heat strips in the air handler will have to pick up the slack and are expensive to run.
  • Heat Quality
    • Though heat pump systems warm your home, they generally blow colder air than furnaces do.
  • Efficiency in Extreme Cold
    • Heat pumps become less efficient as the outside temperature drops.

Furnaces

Furnaces heat the air in your home by burning natural gas. They burn the same natural gas you use to cook and heat your water. The gas is burned in a heat exchanger and a fan is used to move the air in your home across the heat exchanger. The carbon monoxide generated from burning the gas is vented out of your home via a duct and separate fan.

Furnace Pros and Cons

• Pros
  • Efficiency in Extreme Cold
    • Furnaces are very efficient and effective in heating the air in your home as the outside temperature drops.
  • Heat Quality
    • Furnaces produce and blow hot heat that some people prefer.
  • Existing Infrastructure
    • If your home already has a gas line hookup, installing a furnace may be cheaper than a heat pump system.

• Cons
  • Efficiency in Mild Months
    • Furnaces loose efficiency as the outside temperatures rise. Heating a home that doesn’t see below-freezing temperatures often can be very expensive.
  • Carbon Monoxide Leaks
    • Old systems and systems that aren’t inspected regularly can leak dangerous carbon monoxide into your home. Furnaces should always be installed with CO detectors and inspected regularly.
  • Dry Air
    • Furnaces tend to dry out the air they heat. If you’re sensitive to dry air and have a furnace, you may have to install a humidifier to make the air inside your home comfortable, adding to the cost of choosing a furnace.

If you’re not quite sure if a heat pump or furnace is the best option for your home, don’t hesitate to contact ABC Heating & Air Conditioning. We are happy to speak with you and discuss your unique options, as well as install any heating solutions that your home may need. Contact us today and let us help you heat your home safely and efficiently.

Incorporated in 1997, ABC Heating & Air Conditioning provides superior installation, service, and repair for all your heating and cooling needs. Our skilled team is dedicated to keeping residents in Plano and McKinney, Dallas and Collin County, and the surrounding Texas communities comfortable. We offer industry-leading equipment at affordable prices, with additional discounts for teachers, military members, and senior citizens. If you have any questions about furnaces or heat pumps do not hesitate to contact us!