Heat Pump vs Furnace: Which One is Better for Your Home?

Homeowners in Auckland live in a climate that has a wide range of temperatures and seasons. The sunny summer days are followed by the extremely cold winter days. Homeowners in Auckland require help maintaining indoor temperatures to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. To heat their homes, they have the option of going for a heat pump Auckland or a furnace.

Both heat pumps and furnaces perform the key role of warming up the indoor air. However, they are different in their heating capabilities, maintenance needs, energy efficiencies, installation and running costs, and the space occupied.

Here is a comparison between a heat pump and a furnace.

The working             

• A heat pump Auckland works on electricity.
• Heat pumps work by drawing heat from the outdoors and transferring it inside to warm the home.
• However, the functioning of a heat pump is not just limited to this.
• Heat pumps have the potential to cool homes as well by reversing the process required to warm them.
• In order to cool the homes, they extract cool air from the environment and pump it indoors.
• Heat pumps offer a dual benefit and are useful for homeowners in Auckland throughout the year.

Furnace

• A furnace burns oil or gas to generate heat. However, there are some furnaces available that use electric coils to produce heat.
• Furnaces are very powerful at heating.
• Compared to heat pumps, furnaces generate more heat.
• Furnaces only provide heat. They are not able to cool homes in the warmer months.
• In the case of using furnaces, a separate air conditioning unit would be needed during the summer.

The main difference between the workings of a heat pump and a gas furnace is that the former works on the thermodynamic principle of transferring heat from the outside to the inside, while the latter generates heat through the combustion of fuel.

Cost

• It is cheaper to buy a fuel-based (oil) furnace than a heat pump Auckland.
• However, when it comes to quality, it is impossible to beat the efficiency and longevity of heat pumps from top brands such as Mitsubishi, Daikin, Carrier, Panasonic, Toshiba, etc.
• It is important to keep in mind that electric furnaces cost 2-2.5 times more than a typical heat pump to generate the same amount of heat.
• Although heat pumps may require a higher upfront investment, they are multifunctional (heating and cooling benefits in one) and can be used in both the summer and winter seasons.
• Installing a furnace will require an air conditioner to be installed to beat the heat during the summer.

Space required

• Furnaces are installed indoors; hence, they require more square feet of space compared to a heat pump.
• A heat pump compressor is installed outdoors and requires about 24–25 inches of clearance around it.
• The indoor air handler of the heat pump, depending on its type, can be mounted on the wall without occupying any floor space.

Maintenance

• With preventive maintenance, both heat pumps and furnaces will last for a long time and function efficiently, too.
• A typical heat pump Auckland has an indoor and outdoor unit that requires scheduled maintenance and inspection by a professional.
• Both heat pumps and furnaces have air filters that need to be replaced periodically.

Due to its high degree of efficiency and versatility, a heat pump Auckland is the preferred choice for homeowners in New Zealand. Instead of having separate heating and cooling systems for winter and summer, it is a wise decision to invest in a single heat pump and start enjoying the benefits right away.

If you have made the decision to go for a heat pump Auckland, Reliance Ventilation Systems (RVS) can assist you. RVS offers a range of heating systems in Auckland from top brands. The professionals at RVS can carefully assess your requirements and make the right recommendations. Get in touch with RVS to find the best heat pump for your home in Auckland.