When it’s time to replace your existing heater, you may be deciding between a furnace or a heat pump. Which one is better for our region and climate? It really depends on your needs and expectations. Both furnaces and heat pumps are excellent for heating, and it really comes down to the model of either type of heater that you select.
But you don’t have to make the decision alone. Give our team a call for heating installation in Saint Peters, MO. Our team will be there to help you through research, installation, and even maintenance and repairs. You can keep reading to learn more about some of the general pros and cons of both furnaces and heat pumps for our area.
Pros and Cons of a Furnace
It’s no secret that we see some pretty cold temperatures during the winter here in Missouri. A furnace may be your best bet for heating since that’s the unit’s sole purpose. Gas furnaces have a better reputation for heating up quickly and increasing the temperature in a home fast when needed.
Electric furnaces take a little bit longer to heat up, but once they do, they can provide consistent heat all day long to keep your home comfortable. When it comes to pricing, gas and electric furnaces are each a little different. Gas furnaces cost more for installation, but then tend to be cheaper for monthly energy use.
Electric furnaces cost less for installation but your energy bills might be a little higher each month. If you have a gas furnace, you need to install carbon monoxide detectors to ensure you’ll be alerted if there is ever a gas leak. No matter what type of heater you have, you should also have smoke detectors.
Pros and Cons of a Heat Pump
A heat pump is unique because it offers heating and cooling all within a single system. The downside to a heat pump is that its method of heating can mean that your home doesn’t get warm as quickly as you would like in the wintertime when temperatures drop significantly.
However, you do have options when it comes to a heat pump. You can install a dual fuel system, which means that your heat pump has a small add-on furnace to provide some additional support. Or, you could install a cold-weather heat pump that has improved heating ability.
Tips for Selecting a Model
No matter what type of heater you decide to install in your home, it is important to consider the overall energy efficiency. All furnaces come with AFUE ratings that estimate the overall heating efficiency. Any furnace with a rating of 90 or higher is considered a high-efficiency model.
Heat pumps work a little differently because they have different rating systems for cooling and heating since the system can do both. If you need help deciphering the different ratings and deciding on a new system for your home, just give our team a call and we are happy to help.
Warm People, Cool Ideas, Quality Solutions. Give our team at Swiss Air Heating and Cooling a call today to schedule an appointment for heating service.
