If you live in Indianapolis or Fishers, IN, cold winters are a part of life. It means homes here lean heavily on their heating systems. It also means finding ways to manage heating costs is essential. So, if you’re in the market for a new heating system, reliability and efficiency are likely to be key factors in your decision. As you shop around, you’ll probably find that two options fit your needs best: gas furnaces and heat pumps. They’re two very different types of heating systems, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s everything you need to know to choose between them.
All About Gas Furnaces
The most popular type of residential heating system in this part of Indiana is the gas furnace. A gas furnace burns natural gas and uses the resulting heat to warm your home. This source of heat has remained a staple in the HVAC industry since the early 1900s. As a result, today’s gas furnaces feature mature, reliable designs and have excellent safety records. Additionally, countless manufacturers make gas furnaces, and HVAC service providers are well-versed in them.
The Advantages of Gas Furnaces
Although gas furnaces come with plenty of advantages, there’s one that explains their overwhelming popularity. It’s that gas furnaces are among the cheapest heating systems to operate. That’s not due to the furnaces themselves, however. It’s more a function of the stable supply and low cost of natural gas in the United States. In reality, an average gas furnace is only about 81% efficient, while high-end units top out at 98.5%. Despite that, a gas furnace remains the most cost-effective heating option in most homes.
Homeowners also love that gas furnaces work the same no matter the weather. A gas furnace will be just as efficient and effective in subzero temperatures as it is in warmer conditions. Plus, gas furnaces output air that’s between 140°F and 170°F. That makes them well-suited for quickly raising indoor temperatures. That can be a critical capability during some of the bitter cold snaps that our area experiences.
The Disadvantages of Gas Furnaces
The biggest disadvantage of a gas furnace is that it requires a natural gas supply. In homes without one, installing the necessary infrastructure can be costly. And if your home isn’t going to use a natural gas supply to power other appliances, too, it’s rarely worth it. Also, natural gas, despite its billing as a clean energy source, is still a fossil fuel. That means burning it releases a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. That can negatively impact the local environment and air quality.
It’s also worth pointing out that, although gas furnaces have a great safety record, they’re not infallible. They still involve controlled combustion inside your home. So, there’s always some risk of fire or a gas or carbon monoxide leak. Those risks make regular maintenance critical for a gas furnace, and not only to ensure reliability and efficiency.
All About Heat Pumps
If you’re unfamiliar with heat pumps, some of the things you’ve likely heard about them may be confusing. For starters, you may have heard that heat pumps don’t consume fuel to make heat. Instead, they use the refrigeration cycle to collect heat from outdoor air and carry it indoors. The simplest way to visualize the process is to think about an air conditioner operating in reverse. And that’s a good explanation, because heat pumps and ACs share many components and operate similarly. The major difference is that a heat pump has a reversing valve, letting it either heat your home or cool it.
The Advantages of Heat Pumps
By far, the most important advantage offered by a heat pump is energy efficiency. In mild conditions, a heat pump can operate at efficiencies approaching 400%. However, cold-climate models, which are common here, operate at efficiencies of at least 175% at temperatures as low as 5°F. That’s still efficient enough to make a heat pump a cost-effective heating option, even on the coldest days and nights. What’s more, their seasonal efficiency typically puts a heat pump’s operating costs at least on par with those of most gas furnaces.
Besides high efficiency, homeowners love that a heat pump can replace your home’s AC and furnace. So, if you’re shopping for both, it’s a natural fit. It’s also noteworthy that a heat pump can be almost carbon-neutral when paired with a renewable energy source. So, if you’re considering a rooftop solar installation, a heat pump would be a perfect complement.
The Disadvantages of Heat Pumps
Heat pumps have few disadvantages. There are only three worth noting. One is the up-front cost. Although a heat pump can trim your heating costs, it will likely cost several thousand dollars more than a gas furnace. The second disadvantage is that installing a heat pump makes you reliant on one system for year-round comfort. So, delaying necessary maintenance and repairs isn’t an option for heat pump owners.
The third disadvantage of a heat pump is that it loses capacity, along with efficiency, as temperatures drop. To start with, most heat pumps only output air at between 90°F and 110°F in heating mode. That means they run for longer cycles than you’d expect from a gas furnace. Ordinarily, that’s no problem, unless we experience unusually cold weather. Eventually, your heat pump may have no choice but to engage inefficient backup heat strips to augment heat production. That can lead to energy bill spikes if the cold weather persists too long.
Making Your Decision
There’s no wrong system choice when it comes to gas furnaces and heat pumps. The one you select will likely come down to a few simple factors. First is the up-front cost. If you already have a natural gas supply, a gas furnace is your cheapest option. Otherwise, the cost of installing gas lines may make a heat pump the more economical choice. The second factor is whether your home needs a new air conditioner. If your existing AC is less than five years old, replacing it would be wasteful. Beyond that age, however, you’ll need to consider your initial AC installation cost to determine if replacement makes sense. If your home doesn’t have an AC at all, installing a heat pump would let you kill two birds with one stone.
Local Heating Experts in Fishers
No matter which type of heating system you want, Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is the place to turn to get it. We’ve served area homeowners for over 18 years, building an impressive reputation along the way. We sell and install quality furnaces and heat pumps from today’s top manufacturers. And our NATE-certified HVAC technicians have the skill and experience to install them in accordance with their manufacturers’ specifications. We’re also Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating for your peace of mind.
So, if you need a new home heating system in Fishers, Indianapolis or the surrounding area, contact Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling today!
