Heat pumps are quickly becoming the preferred heating and cooling solution for Americans. The number of heat pumps shipped in the United States more than doubled between 2001 and 2016. This rise in popularity is due in part to many homeowners discovering the advantages heat pumps have over gas furnaces. Here are three of the top reasons to install a heat pump.
Lower Running Cost
A heat pump uses electricity to heat and cool a home. The efficiency of an electric heating system is superior to that of a gas furnace. The heating coils inside a heat pump and the heat exchanger of a gas furnace perform the same basic function: They both heat the air. The difference—and the reason why heat pumps are more efficient—is found in how the warmed air is delivered.
A gas furnace depends on an extended ducting system to deliver the warmed air. As the air moves through the ductwork, heat energy is lost along the way. That’s why ductwork is often warm to the touch; heat is escaping. By the time it reaches the target area, much of the warmth has been wasted. A heat pump, on the other hand, runs air past the heating coils and instantly into the area being warmed. This elimination of waste means the system can run for less time than a gas furnace, which equates to significant savings.
A Safer Solution
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A gas furnace, due to the combustion system it uses, comes with inherent risks. If there is a gas leak, the gas could combust outside of the chamber and cause a fire or explosion. Also, if the combustion chamber is compromised, neighboring components can melt or go up in flames.
A heat pump doesn’t use combustion at all, virtually eliminating the threat of unintentional fires. The electric heating elements are equipped with fuses that can trip and disable the unit if an unsafe condition arises.
Quiet, Smooth Operation
A gas furnace uses a combination of a pilot light, electrically-powered ignition, and combustion to turn on and then fans to push the air throughout the house. Also, as the furnace heats up, the metal expands, and it contracts as it cools down. All of this results in what can sometimes be a jilted, noisy process.
A heat pump operates in a much more straightforward fashion. When it receives the signal from the thermostat, it uses electricity to heat its coils and then blow air across their surfaces. Compared to a gas furnace, this process is relatively silent. The room simply warms up without odd or distracting noises.
The advantages of heat pumps make their rise in popularity easy to understand. They cost less to run because they more efficiently heat and deliver air. They offer a safer solution due to the lack of combustion. Their smooth, quiet operation makes them a less intrusive heating solution. Coastal Air Technologies, Inc. has multiple heat pump solutions. Join the rest of the country in choosing a heat pump to keep you and your family warm.
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