If you are having problems with your central air conditioner and furnace, you may be nervous about the thought of replacing two systems at the same time. To save money on a new system and labor expenses, it may be beneficial to invest in a heat pump system.
A heat pump is integrated with a compressor and liquid refrigerant that is designed to move heat energy from a single location to another. During the winter season, a heat pump will remove heat energy from the outdoor air and pump it to different rooms in your house. To help you choose a new system for your home, we have compiled a list of the benefits and drawbacks of investing in a heat pump system.
4 Advantages of Installing a Heat Pump
Does Not Use Gas
Although a gas furnace is designed to provide heat at a faster rate than electric appliances, this type of furnace is vulnerable to toxic gas leaks that can cause fires or explosions. On the other hand, investing in a heat pump that runs on electricity will help protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning and other health issues.
Minimal Noise
Unlike a furnace and central air conditioner, an advantage of buying an electrical heat pump is that it’s designed to produce a minimal amount of noise when it’s operating. A standard air conditioner operates at 60 decibels. On the other hand, an energy-efficient air source heat pump runs at 40 decibels.
If you are looking for ways to replace an old noisy air conditioner, you may want to consider purchasing a heat pump system or a ductless mini-split unit. While a heat pump system produces minimal noises while it’s on, this type of system is also engineered to be efficient. Heat pumps utilize less electricity when compared to other types of systems.
Efficiency
Electric heat pump systems are becoming increasingly popular because they do not rely on fossil fuels to produce warm and cold air. A benefit of investing in an air-source heat pump is that you will utilize less electricity or natural gas when compared to other types of systems. Purchasing a heat pump will help reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that are released into the environment each year.
In addition, installing a heat pump instead of a furnace or central air conditioner can help you save money on your utility bills. The total amount of money you will save by purchasing a heat pump will vary depending on the cost of natural gas in your area, number of windows in your home, climate, season, and type of insulation behind your walls.
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Produces Warm & Cold Air
The cost of maintaining and installing a separate furnace and air conditioner is expensive. In addition, a central air conditioner takes up a lot of space on the side of your house or in your backyard.
If you’re investigating the pros and cons of buying a heat pump, you are probably aware that this type of system is engineered to produce warm and cold air. Instead of wasting money on labor expenses for a furnace or air conditioner, we recommend saving money on installation fees by purchasing a single system that relies on electricity.
Other Advantages of Heat Pumps
- -Since a ductless heat pump can be installed in every room of your house, investing in this type of system will help eliminate cold spots in your house
- -The volume of warm and cold air produced by a heat pump exceeds the total amount of electricity it utilizes when it’s operating
- -Since a heat pump can produce warm and cold air, you will only need to sign up for a single maintenance package instead of two packages for your central air conditioner and furnace
3 Disadvantages of Purchasing a Heat Pump
Reliance on Electricity
Although it may be safer to run a heat pump in comparison to a gas furnace or boiler, an electric air-source heat pump system can become inoperable during a power outage. On the other hand, choosing to purchase a traditional furnace will not save you from the negative consequences of electrical distribution issues.
The latest furnaces are equipped with electric igniters such as hot surface igniters and intermittent pilot lights. Since the newest furnaces utilize electric igniters to produce warm air, they will become unusable during a power outage.
High Upfront Cost
A disadvantage of installing a heat pump includes a high upfront cost for the HVAC system. The cost to purchase and install a heat pump system ranges from $15,000 to $20,000 depending on the efficiency rating of the system, layout of your house, brand, and the season. For example, it may be more expensive to purchase a heat pump at the beginning of winter because the demand for this type of system is up.
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Uses a Small Amount of Carbon
While a heat pump does not rely on natural gas or propane to operate, this type of system is not carbon neutral because it utilizes a large amount of electricity to provide warm and cold air to your home. The only way to eliminate the carbon emissions produced by your system is to integrate your heat pump with solar panels that are installed on your roof or in your backyard.
Other Disadvantages of Heat Pumps
- -Once the temperatures fall below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, a heat pump may require a secondary heating source to maintain a warm temperature in your home
- -Gas and oil furnaces are capable of producing warm air at higher temperatures in comparison to electric heat pumps
- -Since a heat pump is designed to extract heat from the outdoor air and circulate it to different areas of your home, it will be less efficient in cold climates
HVAC System Installation and Repair Services
If you are struggling with whether or not to purchase a heat pump, give our team a call by phone at (484) 206-8594. Our professionals offer remarkable HVAC services in Norristown, PA and will help you compare the benefits and drawbacks of air-source heat pumps and ground-source heat pumps.
We offer dependable HVAC services for homes in Pennsylvania such as furnace repair, heat pump replacement, heating system installation, and air conditioning tune-up. Our team has the tools and equipment necessary to diagnose and resolve a problem with your heating or air conditioning system.