For a common consumer, it’s quite difficult to decide which one to choose between heat pumps and gas furnaces. You should know the difference to determine which one is the best. Choosing between the 2 mainly depends on the location of your home. Another problem is deciding whether to install a new gas furnace or to repair the old one.

All furnaces in the market are rated according to the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE ratio. They must be at least 78 percent AFUE. Therefore, if your furnace is already 10 to 15 years old, it will likely fail the standard of wasting energy. If your gas furnace is old, it could waste up to 45 percent of the heat that it generates. A new one can provide you as much as 97 percent AFUE. This means you get an instant cost savings from operation.

Are heat pumps better than gas furnaces?

• If your home is located in a place where there is lower temperature, a gas furnace will fit you. But if you have a moderate climate, a heat pump can be your best option since it is more cost effective.
• Gas furnaces are cheaper in price, while heat pumps cost higher. However, heat pumps are less expensive to operate in the long run.
• Heat pumps can give you savings for as much as 30 to 40 percent of electricity that you use for heating. They can deliver up to $3.45 worth of heating.
• Heat pumps use refrigerants, so, they can both function as a heater and an air conditioner, while furnaces can only heat. So, you can have only one unit for your year-round climate control.
• Heat pumps use electricity while furnaces use natural gas, LPG or liquid petroleum gas, coal, wood or fuel oil.
• Since not all homeowners can access natural gas, they commonly use heat pumps in their homes.
• Since a furnace uses a type of fuel to heat, it could be highly explosive if not properly ventilated.
• Heat pumps have air filters that help in producing clean air in your home.
  

Since installation of both gas furnaces and heat pumps can be dangerous for DIY risk takers, it is better to have them installed by a licensed and certified professional. If you’re worried about the price of the unit and its installation cost, look for a company that offers flat rate on materials and labor.

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