Views: 207 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-02-25 Origin: Site
Heat pumps and furnaces are integral HVAC systems responsible for maintaining a balanced room temperature. They both provide warmth and comfort during cold weather. But while they serve the same purpose of heating a home, their operation, efficiency, and suitability vary. At first glance, they may seem similar, but key differences in energy efficiency, safety, cost, and many others make one a better choice.
Understanding the differences between heat pump vs furnace will help you make an informed choice. In this post, we will discuss in detail which is better between heat pumps and furnaces.
A heat pump is an HVAC system that performs both cooling and heating operations. It uses electric energy to transfer heat from outside into your home during winter. In the summer months, it extracts indoor heat and transfers it outdoors to maintain a perfect room temperature.
Source: SPRSUN
Compared to other HVAC systems, heat pumps are highly energy-efficient because they require less energy to produce the same amount of heat generated by others. One of the best models is the heat pump R290, which is capable of maintaining a high efficiency in temperatures as low as -25°C.
Heat pumps are often categorized according to their energy sources, which are Air, Water, and Ground.
There are two types of air-source heat pumps: air to air and air to water heat pumps. They function by transferring heat from outdoor air to make your home air and water warm.
A water source heat pump extracts heat directly from an external body of water and transforms it into energy that can be used to supply hot water to heat a building.
Geothermal heat pump utilizes the constant temperature beneath the earth (40°-70°C) to supply enough heat to houses during the winter and also uses it to absorb excess heat during the summer.
● Lower Operating Cost: Heat pump's electricity consumption is lower than all other types of HVAC. This is because it only transfers heat from outdoor sources rather than generating it. Hence why heat pumps can supply up to three units of heat per unit of electricity they consume.
● User-Friendly: After the core parameters have been installed, the heat pump's control becomes so simple that users can adjust a room's temperature using a remote or an app installed on their phone.
● Improved Safety and Eco-friendliness: The use of electricity makes it the safest HVAC system and it is eco-friendly due to little or no carbon emission. It does not run on fossil fuels, so no risk of fuel leaks or carbon dioxide poisoning.
● Dual Cooling Functionality: Heat pump offers year-round comfort regardless of the season. It provides heating solutions in the winter and cooling solutions during the summer, saving consumers the cost of running multiple HVAC systems.
● Increased Electricity Consumption: Heat pump functions primarily on electricity. Therefore, installing one will increase your monthly energy consumption.
● Cold Weather Performance: The performance of an air-source heat pump reduces in extremely cold weather because it becomes hard to extract enough heat from thin air. Does not apply to geothermal or water source heat pumps.
A furnace is a heating system used to generate and circulate heat within an apartment. Unlike heat pumps, a furnace does not provide cooling solutions, however it can be paired with an air conditioning unit to enjoy both cooling and heating solutions.
Most furnaces generate heat through combustion while a few of them use electricity. Highlighted below are 3 of the most utilized types of furnaces.
Just like the name implies, a gas furnace uses natural gas as fuel to generate and distribute heat in a building. This type of furnace ensures the produced heat is filtered properly using an electrical charge to trap particles and dust that blow through the system.
● Propane Furnace
Propane furnaces operate almost the same way as natural gas furnaces. The only difference is that the propane furnace is connected to a propane tank which is either placed above or below the grounds within a property.
An electric furnace directly converts electrical energy to heat energy required to keep a house warm. Its heat exchanger sucks enough cool air from the room into the furnace's electric heating chamber to heat it up. Then the blower fan distributes the hot air through its ductwork to the building.
● Suitable for Extremely Cold Regions: Furnaces are designed to rapidly fill up a room with high heat regardless of the temperature outside. This is because they generate heat rather than transfer heat.
● Long Life Span: A furnace generally lasts between 15 to 20 years and it can last longer when it is maintained properly. Factors like proper installation, low frequency of use, and standard room sizing can help boost its longevity.
● Adaptability: Gas furnaces can easily be paired with other HVAC systems without condemning the installed HVAC setup. It can be paired with an air conditioning or heat pump system.
● High Installation Cost: Initial furnace installation is quite expensive, especially when the apartment does not have an already installed ductwork or natural gas system.
● Safety and emission risk: Furnaces that run on fuels are more exposed to leaks that may lead to fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Below is a detailed differentiation between heat pump vs gas furnace:
The major differentiating factor between heat pump v gas furnace is how they work.
Heat pumps provide warmth to a house by using electricity to extract the heat present in the cool air, water, or shallow ground around a building. It then converts and transfers the heat indoors for a proper heated temperature using components like refrigerant, compressor, reversing valves, fans, and motor. And in the summer, it works vice-versa.
Furnaces, on the other hand, do not transfer heat but use fossil fuels or electricity to generate their heat. The major components that generate heat for a gas furnace are fossil fuel and burner, while the major heat generating component for an electric furnace is a heater coil.
Heat pumps are much more efficient because they harness the heat within the environment rather than generating heat. This is why a heat pump can achieve efficiency ratings of 300% or more, meaning it delivers three or more units of heat for every unit of electricity used. While heat pumps are believed not to be efficient in cold weather, there are specially made cold climate heat pumps for frigid zones.
The efficiency level for a furnace is always below 100% because part of the heat generated gets lost to the environment during the process of conversion from fossil fuel to heat energy. In extremely cold regions, a furnace performs greatly since it can maintain a constant heat supply regardless of how extreme the weather becomes.
Another differentiating factor is the cost of heat pump vs furnace.
When compared to a furnace, a heat pump requires a higher upfront cost mainly because of some additional components like ductworks and insulations that need to be installed with it. A full heat pump installation costs anywhere between $12,000 to $20,000. But in the long run, it is relatively cheaper due to its energy source and coefficient of performance (COP).
A fully installed furnace can be as cheap as $2000 to $13,200 because it does not have a cooling unit. But when comparing heat pump vs propane furnace operating cost, the latter can be more expensive as it entails buying fossil fuel from time-to-time. It requires more energy to function efficiently.
Source: SPRSUN Heat Pump
Another key difference with heat pump vs oil furnace is installation. Heat pumps are installed with indoor and outdoor components. The outdoor unit is placed outside, in a spot not exposed to excess wind or sunlight; while the indoor unit is positioned within the living space for easy air distribution. Unlike furnaces, heat pumps require only a little amount of space as they are either attached to the wall or placed on the floor.
Installing a furnace needs more space and that is why its indoor units are placed in the basement or utility closet. It is installed closer to a vent or chimney for proper heat exchange and safety.
Another factor that puts heat pumps and furnaces apart is the maintenance.
Heat pumps require at least 2 times maintenance in a year (spring and fall) since it functions as both a heater and an air conditioner. Also, heat pumps have more moving parts (such as compressors and reversing valves), thus they require frequent servicing than furnaces.
Furnaces, on the other hand, require annual maintenance, usually before the winter season. While maintenance is crucial, it is less frequent compared to a heat pump since a furnace runs only in winter.
This is another essential heat pump vs gas furnace calculator, as it entails how long you'll have to wait before making another purchase.
Furnaces last longer than heat pumps because they are only used during colder months; this makes them less susceptible to frequent wear and tear. The estimated useful life of a furnace is between 15 to 20 years while heat pumps last between 10 to 15 years. In general, their lifespan solely depends on proper maintenance, frequency of use, and the environment's climate pattern.
An important consideration when comparing electric furnace vs heat pump is the safety measures in place. Basically, heat pumps are safer because they use electricity to transfer heat. No risk of chemical or fire hazards.
Gas furnaces, on the other hand, are much risky and pose threats of carbon monoxide poisoning or gas explosion. Gas leaks from furnaces can also cause fire hazards or explosions if not properly maintained. Even a small leak in the gas line can be dangerous.
The similarities and variations that exist between heat pumps and furnaces make people ask questions like is heat pump better than furnace? Or is a heat pump more efficient than a furnace?
A furnace is best installed in areas with extreme weather conditions because it is focused on producing heat at a constant level. However, a downside is that it can not cool an apartment in the summer months unless you pair it with an air conditioning unit.
Heat pump, on the other hand, is efficient for both cooling and heating solutions. It can be used during both the summer and winter. The only downside is that it does not last as long as a furnace because it's constantly working. But when you consider that you will be getting both heating and cooling functions in one system, it's a better option.
While both heat pumps and furnaces can be used to heat a building, heat pumps offer superior solutions by also cooling the space.
In this article, we've compared heat pump vs furnace in detail and highlighted that heat pumps are a better option generally. And no better place to buy than a professional China heat pump manufacturer with the professionalism and guidance needed to choose the right model for your needs.
No, you don't. A heat pump can supply your heating and cooling needs all year round. You can even buy a low temperature heat pumps if you live in a very cold region.
Yes, you should switch from a furnace to a heat pump to enjoy both heating and cooling functions at an energy-efficient price.
| Image | Product Name |
|---|---|
 | R32 ClimaWise Series - 6KW/9.5KW/12KW/16KW EVI DC Inverter Air to Water Heat Pumps - Monoblock Type |
 | R290 Greenergy Series - 25-50KW Commercial Inverter Heat Pumps |
 | R290 AquaHero Series- All in One Hot Water Heat Pump |
 | OceanStar Series - 9-16KW R32 Swimming Pool Inverter Heat Pump |
 | Greenergy Pro Series - R290 Heat Pump for Hot Water, Heating and Cooling |
 | R290 Greenergy Pro Series - 9-12KW ERP A+++ DC Inverter Air Source Heat Pumps |
