If you’re looking into heating and cooling options for your home or office in Auckland, you have a few alternatives to choose from. You could get fans, air conditioning units, heat pumps or furnaces. In terms of function, servicing and efficiency, you have a big decision to make. If you’re considering a heat pump or a furnace, use this guide to help you choose which is best for you. 

Furnaces

Furnaces are most commonly found in older homes. However, furnace manufacturing technology has improved over time, and they’re still a good way to heat your home. But are they a better alternative to heat pumps? 

• They Can Run On Natural Gas 

Throughout history, wood-burning furnaces were much more commonly used to provide heat. However, how likely is the average homeowner going to have a regular supply of firewood available? Although you can buy it, using firewood isn’t sustainable for the environment, as countless trees are being chopped down. And, the carbon emissions from furnaces and wood fires are extensive, adding to pollution and the effects of climate change, which is a deal-breaker for many of the environmentally-conscious. 

For that reason, furnaces started being manufactured to run on natural gas. It’s cheaper than electricity and better for the environment in terms of carbon emissions that furnaces emit. However, like wood, natural gas is still a natural resource which needs to be used sustainably. 

• They’re Affordable 

One of the most compelling reasons why homeowners opt for furnaces over heat pumps is because they’re more affordable to install. The installation process is also easier than when installing a heat pump. As long as you have a consistent gas or wood supply, and maintain your furnace regularly, it will hold you in good stead for years to come. 

Unfortunately, furnaces only provide heating, so you would still need a cooling appliance for when the seasons start warming up. That’s where heat pumps come in. 

Heat Pumps 

Heat pumps have become the most popular heating and cooling alternative for homeowners in Auckland.  Here’s why:

• They Perform Two Functions 

One of the most significant reasons why heat pumps are typically the first choice is because they provide both heating and cooling. With a heat pump, you don’t need to install an air conditioning unit, fans, or another cooling alternative – because it does both. 

If you have a furnace, you would need a second system to provide cooling, which would need to be purchased and installed separately. That’s an additional expense if you want to be comfortable in summer. The servicing and repairs would also be a separate expense for your furnace and cooling system. 

Whereas with a heat pump, you have a 2-in-1 heating and cooling system that receives servicing and repairs for both functions, performed at the same time. That’s one heat pump servicing expense, and one appliance contributing to your energy bill.

• They Are Energy-Efficient

Heat pumps use electricity to run, which is the most sustainable fuel source available. Electricity is generated, which means it isn’t a finite resource that is grown, mined or taken from the earth, like wood, gas or coal. It’s a supply that won’t run out. And, if you have solar panels and inverters in your Auckland home, you can generate clean, renewable energy on your own to power your heat pump at a lower cost. 

Even with gas-powered furnaces, gas is still a natural resource, which cannot be generated like electricity. So although furnaces are cheaper to install, you’re still saving money on energy bills in the long run with a heat pump, and the cost to the environment is less as well. 

• Heat Pumps Can Be Ductless 

Furnaces are installed with ducts, which circulate the warm air throughout every room in the building. Ducted heat pumps work the same way, and can circulate cool air around as well as heat. However, you can now install ductless heat pumps, which negates the need for expensive and disruptive duct installations, with a mini-split heat pump system.

Although this choice is a personal one that each Auckland homeowner must make, it’s obvious which is the better alternative between heat pumps and furnaces. Although heat pumps are the more expensive appliance to install in comparison to furnaces, they’re more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and they allow you to control the temperatures in your own home. Heat pump servicing also enables you to make significant savings, with its 2-in-1 heating and cooling function. With one installation and singular heat pump servicings required, a heat pump is the smarter choice. Just call and ask Comfy Kiwi Homes! They provide the system, installation and heat pump servicing.