Are you ready to purchase a new heating system for your Bend, OR area home? If so, you might be a bit confused as to which type of appliance you should buy. Although furnaces are the traditional choice, more and more homeowners are turning to heat pumps. Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages. To make your decision, you’ll need to evaluate your unique situation and determine which heating appliance is the best fit for your household.
How Do They Provide Heat?
The main difference between furnaces and heat pumps is how they provide heat. Gas-powered furnaces use fuel and combustion to create heat, whereas electric furnaces blow air over a hot element. Both types of furnaces create warmth. However, heat pumps don’t create new heat. Instead, they use coils and refrigerant to absorb heat from the outdoors. Then, they distribute that warm air around your household.
Comparing Energy Efficiency
Because heat pumps and furnaces have different methods for providing heat, there tends to be a large gap in energy efficiency. In most cases, heat pumps are quite a bit more efficient than furnaces. This is primarily because absorbing heat from outside doesn’t require nearly as much electricity as creating heat. Historically, in very cold climates, heat pumps tended to lose efficiency due to the lack of outdoor heat. However, as technology has changed, heat pumps have become very efficient in colder climates and should run efficiently year-round.
Examining Versatility
One unique thing about heat pumps is that they can serve as air conditioners in addition to heaters. By simply flipping a switch, you can have your heat pump reverse its flow of refrigerant. This allows it to start removing heat from your home’s air and expelling it from the house. So, when you have a heat pump, you only need to use a single appliance for your heating and cooling. That can save you some space and money, and you likely won’t have to spend as much time on upkeep. This versatility is what convinces many homeowners that a heat pump is the best choice for their home.
At Mountain View Heating, we’ve been faithfully serving the Bend area since 1979. When you need a furnace or heat pump installed in your home, our skilled technicians will guide you through the whole process. We also offer HVAC repair and maintenance, ductless systems, and indoor air quality services. Contact us at Mountain View Heating today to schedule an appointment!
