Some people like the seasonal changes that winter brings. But one change that no one enjoys is higher heating bills. From wood furnaces to efficient space heaters to electric furnaces to radiators, everyone has an opinion about how best to heat a house. But when the criteria for determining the best heat source are safety, cleanliness, and economy, heat pumps are hard to beat. Heat pumps transfer warmth from the outside air and circulate it through your home’s ventilation system. As long the outside temperature stays above absolute zero (-460° F), the pumps work the same as if the temperature were 80° F. And when the temperature gets too warm inside your home, the pump triggers a reverse valve that runs coolant the other way and pushes excess warmth outside.
Compared to other heat sources, heat pumps are superior in a variety of ways. Unlike wood furnaces, radiators, and gas-powered furnaces, heat pumps don’t burn fuel and therefore offer cleaner heat, and they are safer for the same reason. Another advantage of heat pumps is that, unlike traditional furnaces, they don’t release sudden blasts of hot air. Instead, they heat a room gradually and maintain an even temperature. Unlike radiators, their release value means that you don’t have to wait for excess heat to dissipate on its own. Economically, heat pumps cost less to operate than electric and gas-powered furnaces and heaters. Remaining in use year-round, heat pumps combine an efficient heating and cooling method into a single unit that costs less than per hour of use than electric and gas furnaces above.
To avoid spending money on a new heat source, most of us stick with our heating and cooling arrangements until they have to be replaced. If you’re in this position, switching out your old furnace for a heat pump will save you money on heating bills, supply you with cleaner air and maintain a more consistent temperature in your home.
