Although we rarely experience truly frigid weather here in Austin, TX, homes here still need reliable heating. These days, most homeowners end up choosing between furnaces and heat pumps to meet their home’s heating needs. Here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision between the two.
Furnace Basics
There are two main types of furnaces: electric and gas. Electric furnaces use heating elements to produce heat before it blows into your home, and gas furnaces, which burn natural gas and then transfer that heat into your home.
The Advantages of Furnaces
Electric and gas furnaces have some overlapping advantages, and a few unique to each. The most important among them are as follows.
Electric Furnace Advantages
An electric furnace has three major advantages. One is its upfront cost. An electric furnace is one of the cheapest heating options on the market today for your home. Another advantage is energy efficiency. All electric furnaces operate at 100% efficiency, so there’s no waste. And finally, electric furnaces boast excellent longevity, with some lasting up to 30 years with proper care.
Gas Furnace Advantages
One of the most significant advantages of a gas furnace is its low operating cost. The average gas furnace operates 81% efficiently. While that doesn’t sound like much, it translates to inexpensive heating when you factor in the low cost of natural gas. Additionally, gas furnaces excel at quickly raising indoor temperatures. That’s because they output air at temperatures between 140 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
While a typical gas furnace won’t last as long as an electric model, they, too, feature excellent longevity. You can expect a quality gas furnace to provide at least 20 years of reliable heat with proper maintenance.
The Disadvantages of Furnaces
Neither electric nor gas furnaces are perfect. The following are some of their respective disadvantages.
Electric Furnace Disadvantages
The most significant disadvantage of owning an electric furnace is high operating costs. Even with their perfect efficiency, electricity isn’t cheap, so running your furnace won’t be, either. Another disadvantage of electric furnaces is that they don’t heat up quickly enough to change your home’s temperature rapidly.
Gas Furnace Disadvantages
One big disadvantage of gas furnaces is that they produce emissions that harm air quality and the environment. A typical gas furnace emits a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor as combustion byproducts. You should also know that a malfunctioning gas furnace can leak those flue gases, or even unburnt natural gas, into your home. While that doesn’t happen often, it is a risk that comes with any gas-fired appliance.
Heat Pump Basics
As their name suggests, heat pumps are devices that move heat from one place to another. They’re mechanically similar to air conditioners, except with a few additional components. Today, you can buy a heat pump in a form factor that’s identical to that of a central AC. Or, you can buy one in the form of a ductless mini-split.
Heat Pump Advantages
The most crucial advantage of heat pumps is their efficiency. In mild climates like ours, air source heat pumps can operate at close to 400% efficiency in heating mode. That makes them, hands down, the most efficient HVAC you can get, outside a geothermal system.
Heat pumps can also do something no other heating system can: provide cooling. Heat pumps operate bidirectionally so that they can replace your home’s central AC. They also don’t produce any direct emissions, making them an environmentally friendly choice.
The Disadvantages of Heat Pumps
The primary disadvantage of heat pumps is their cost. You can expect to pay two to three times more for a heat pump than for a furnace. However, as you’re also getting a cooling solution for the price, that’s not always a bad thing. Another noteworthy disadvantage is that a heat pump makes your home dependent on a single system, year-round. So, if your heat pump malfunctions, you can’t put off repairs. It also makes regular maintenance far more essential to stave off system failures.
How To Choose the Right System
The choice between a furnace and a heat pump usually comes down to a few considerations. One is your current heating system. If you’re happy with your current heater, selecting a similar replacement isn’t a bad idea. If you’re ready for an upgrade, however, replacing a furnace with a heat pump isn’t difficult.
Another factor most homeowners consider is their long-term goals. If you’re transitioning your home toward full electrification, a heat pump is a must. Choosing a furnace will ensure you need to keep your natural gas supply for decades. So, if you already have plans for rooftop solar and an EV, you’ll likely want a heat pump to go with them.
Local Heating Experts
Whether you want a furnace or a heat pump for your Austin home, trust Totally Cool Heating & Air to install it. We’ve served local homeowners since 1982. Our team of HVAC technicians has decades of combined experience. We sell and install quality heating systems from multiple leading manufacturers. Plus, we offer financing options on approved credit to help you afford the system you need. So, when you need a new heating system for your Austin home, contact Totally Cool Heating & Air.
