Furnace vs. Heat Pump Comparison

Wanting to heat your home as efficiently as possible may have you pondering the relative merits of furnaces and heat pumps. Comparing the two requires consideration of climate and the relative prices of fuel and electricity.

Heat Source

The heat provided to your home by a furnace comes from the combustion of natural gas, propane or oil depending on the type of fuel the furnace uses. A heat pump provides heat to the inside of your home by extracting heat from the air or ground outside your home.

Operating Conditions

Air source heat pumps are more efficient than furnaces when temperatures are mild. However, when temperatures are near or below freezing, air source heat pumps do not work well and a supplementary heat source is required. Ground source heat pumps work efficiently in a wider range of temperatures than air source heat pumps.

Cost

Heat pumps cost more to purchase and install than furnaces. Heat pumps can also cool your home, saving on the cost of an air conditioner. Since heat pumps are powered by electricity, the relative cost of operating a furnace and a heat pump depends on the relative cost of fuel and electricity in your area.

References

• House-Energy: Heat Pumps vs. Furnaces
• FurnaceCompare: Buying a Heat Pump
• Consumer Energy Center: Ground Source Heat Pumps

Resources

• Tennessee Valley Authority: Dare to Compare