Trying to figure out which one, heat pump or gas furnace? Heat pump is much cheaper and gets $1,500 tax credit. The furnace gets tax credit too but not as much. Any ideas?Thanks
Hmmm. Well, they are two very different things. Heat pumps are great, but they start to lose efficiency at about 20 degrees F. That's when normal people go to backup or emergency heat. If your area never gets below 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C), there is no need for a backup heating system. The heat pump is your primary and the gas (or electric heat kit) is your backup. If you live in southern Florida or something, there is no need for a backup heat kit of any kind (no electric, no gas, no nothin'). You just buy an air handler and a heat pump. Where do you live and what is your electrical service rated at? 60A, 100A, or 200A (or more)? BTW, gas furnaces (well, it's actually an air handler with a gas backup) are very expensive compared to just an air handler. In my experience, a gas furnace will cost you two times the amount of just the raw air handler (maybe more). ------------- One other thing, if you decide on the heat pump/gas backup system, you will need a fossil fuel kit module. They ain't cheap, count on about 250 bucks just for that. Is any of this making sense? Are you getting it? What normal, non-HVAC people call a furnace we call an air handler. It's nothing but a sheet metal box with a coil pack on top that moves air between return (intake) and supply (your ducts). They don't have heat out of the box. Heat is provided by the addition of a heat pump and/or the addition of an electric heat kit. Out of the box a furnace (as you know it) won't do squat except move air. If you buy a gas furnace, it comes with a heat exchanger and all the mechanisms that make gas heating possible and is a true furnace. Gas furnaces will also come with a coil pack on top, just like a no frills air handler.
In general if there is natural gas available then a gas furnace is better. It is usually cheaper to run and will heat your house regardless of the outside temperature. Most reputable heating contractors have computer programs that can tell you which is cheaper in your area. Natural gas may be expensive but electricity is more expensive unless you live in an area with cheap hydroelectric power.
Heat pumps are the way to go it seems. You will also have a back-up furnace, whether it's the one that currently exists or a new one. As the temps. get colder the heat pump works less efficiently, thus the need for a back-up. So ya know, the heat pump doesn't blow the hot air like a gas furnace; more warm air. It takes a little getting used to, but well worth the savings in fuel.
The heat pump will be cheaper on the utility bill *IF* you live in a climate that is reasonably warm year round. Just remember, heat pumps only work so well and not when it's below a certain temperature outside. Heat pumps run a LOT when it's cold outside. And they don't blow out very warm air. If it's too cold the heat pump is supposed to switch over to alternate heating mode. This can be a gas furnace or electric. At least with the heat pump, you get the added benefit of having central A/C. So, best bet is to get a heat pump with a gas furnace if you live in middle Kentucky or north of there. Heat pumps also need to be serviced very regularly. Coils cleaned, and you want to make certain that whomever installs it, has it elevated at least 12-18 inches above the ground, or 8 inches above the average snow line. If it gets buried in snow, it won't work.
The systems work pretty good for the most part, but just make sure the entire system is wired correctly and that all temp sensors used are rated for such a system. Also make sure there's a fail-safe for kicking on the furnace independent of the 40 degree sensor, even if it's just a manual on/off switch wired into the furnace control.
