HVAC systems have limited life spans. If your unit breaks down and requires replacement, install a new furnace or heat pump to restore the heat before the winter. While both products keep your home cozy, they have unique benefits. Use this overview to determine which option provides the results you’re looking for. 

What Are the Benefits of Furnaces?

A traditional HVAC system consists of a furnace and an air handler. The furnace burns fuel to create heat and distributes the treated air through the home. This setup is typically more affordable than a heat pump, but if you require cooling, the addition of an air conditioner makes the HVAC system as a whole more expensive. There’s also the cost of gas or oil to consider.

However, this option’s lower maintenance requirements may offset some of these additional expenses. Since a furnace is only required for a few months of the year, it doesn’t experience too much strain. Over time, this might prevent malfunctions and costs associated with repairs. Usually, all you need to do is schedule an inspection at the start of the cold season.

Furnaces last up to 20 years, so your investment will go a long way. Burning fuel produces consistent heat, so your home is warm no matter what the temperature is like outside.

What Are the Benefits of Heat Pumps?

This option both cools and heats a property. In the summer, the unit extracts hot air from inside the home to make it cooler. In the winter, this process is reversed so that the equipment pulls hot air from outside and blows it into the home. By transferring heat instead of producing it through fuel combustion, a heat pump is more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than a furnace.

Keep in mind that heat pumps may require extra help when the temperatures plunge below 30 degrees regularly. In these periods, there isn’t enough heat in the outdoor air to adequately heat your house. If you need a secondary heating system, having a heat pump will still prevent energy and fuel waste on warmer days. The system can then function as an air conditioner in the summer.

Heat pumps require annual tuneups, and last at least 15 years when properly maintained. 

When you need a new heater, turn to the professionals at White Refrigeration in Alliance, OH. This contractor has provided trusted HVAC services to homeowners across northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania since 1973. Their highly trained technicians work with a range of heating systems, including furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers. Call (330) 821-1243 for a free estimate on new equipment installation, or visit their website to learn more about their work.