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Many homes rely on a furnace for heat.
This option is especially useful in colder climates that often experience sub-freezing temperatures.
What Is a Heat Pump?
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While a furnace generates heat, a heat pump only transfers heat to the interior of the home.
A furnace burns oil, natural gas, or propane to generate heat.
Furnaces are highly effective in cold climates where the temperatures frequently fall below freezing.
A furnace must be pairedwith an air conditionerto cool the home during the summer.
Furnace
Efficiency
When it comes to efficiency, a heat pump is the best choice.
Heat pumps can both heat and cool the home without worrying about these hazards.
Climate
Heat pumps draw in heat from the air or the ground.
This method of heating the home is highly efficient, but doesn’t work well in sub-freezing temperatures.
Furnaces generate heat independently, so the outdoor temperature has little effect on their ability towarm the home.
In most cases, a heat pump is considered noisier than a furnace.
Maintenance
Both heat pumps and furnaces require regular maintenance to keep the HVAC appliance operating efficiently.
Furnace maintenance isn’t quite as involved as heat pump maintenance.
Weigh the pros and cons of each heating appliance before choosing the best HVAC system for your home.
Whether a heat pump or a furnace is better depends on where the home is located.
A heat pump offers dual-operating capability for both heating and cooling.
Heat pumps tend to have reduced efficiency and performance in cold weather.
They can also have a higher installation cost and a shorter lifespan than furnaces.
A heat pump is also noisier and may need to defrost regularly to function in sub-freezing temperatures.
What’s the Difference?
Heat Pump vs. Furnace.Bob Vila.
Furnace: Which Heating System Is Best for Your Home?Angi.
