Yes, summer is almost here. And we’re sure to have a busy summer here at GAMA Air helping our friends and neighbors in and around Beverly Hills, Culver City, Mar Vista, Miracle Mile, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Bel Air, Westwood, Downtown Los Angeles, Vernon, Huntington Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino with their central cooling system problems. So why, you may be asking, are we talking about heating? Well, as you know, the summer passes by quickly and before you know it’s over. So now is the perfect time to turn your attention to your heating system. Perhaps you’ve realized it’s time for a new heating system and you’ve been wondering whether a heat pump or a gas furnace would be the best for your home. Plus, if your air conditioner goes out this summer, you just may want to think about whether to put in a Heat Pump, which cools and heats.
Both heat pump systems and gas furnaces provide effective heating for your home, but each type has its pros and cons. We’re going to provide you with some of these pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Heat Pump – Pros
- Energy efficiency – when compared to a gas furnace, most electric heat pumps are more energy efficient, making them ideal for homes in moderate climates.
- Installation cost – a heat pump system is usually less costly to install than a furnace because it does not need extensive ventilation.
- Operating cost – in many areas electricity rates are lower than natural gas, meaning a heat pump may cost less to operate than a gas furnace.
- Noise quantity – heat pumps are quieter during operation than a furnace.
- Safety – unlike a gas furnace, heat pumps have no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Heat Pump – Cons
- Size – a heat pump system requires both an indoor and outdoor component, while a gas furnace only has an indoor component.
- Inefficiency – a heat pump is not very effective at heating a home during periods of extremely cold weather, making it less ideal in very cold climates.
Gas Furnace - Pros
- Lifespan – a gas furnace usually lasts longer than a heat pump.
- Maintenance – the cost of maintaining a gas furnace is much less than a heat pump because it is only used for a few months out of the year.
- Reliable – a gas furnace has fewer mechanical parts than a heat pump, so there are fewer things that can break down or malfunction.
Gas Furnace - Cons
- Safety – although rare, a gas furnace could leak causing an explosion.
- Air quality – gas combustion in a furnace creates byproducts which may result in poor indoor air quality.
So, there you have it … a few pros and cons to help you make a good decision on your next heating system. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and to provide a quote. Give us a call at (310) 651-6936 or use our online form to schedule a visit.
Do you have questions that you’re eager to get a response on? You’re at the right place! Fill out the form on our “Ask an Expert” page, and the resident expert at GAMA Air will get back to you quickly with an answer.