Heat Pump or Furnace: Which is Best for Cincinnati Homes?

Schedule Now

For residents of greater Cincinnati, it’s a frequent question – heat pump or furnace? Whether you’re planning a build or know you need to replace your whole heating and cooling system, it’s best to weigh your options. Both have benefits. It just depends on what’s most important to you.

If you’re unfamiliar, the main difference between the two is a heat pump is dual-function and a furnace performs a single purpose. A heat pump heats and cools a home. It shifts its function depending on the need.

A furnace heats. Cooling requires an air conditioner, or a second piece of equipment.

Heat Pump Pros and Cons for Cincinnati Residents

If you plan to replace both your heating and cooling system, a heat pump can be a great choice. Maybe you’ve purchased a home with an older air conditioner and newer, but inefficient furnace.

If the air conditioner is at the end of its lifespan, it may feel early to replace both. If the furnace, however, is low quality or has an AFUE or 80 or below, you may consider replacing both. Especially if you suspect it hasn’t been maintained well or is out of the warranty period.

In general, a heat pump is energy efficient and costs less to operate. They often are more quiet and cost less to install. Because there’s no fuel combustion, like with a gas furnace, there’s no risk of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning.

The farther north you go, you’re likely to see fewer heat pumps. This is because heat pumps are less effective at heating entire homes during extreme cold.

Cincinnati, however, nestles in a fairly moderate winter climate. Heat pumps are more than adequate for our seasons, as long as they’re maintained.

Routine service is especially important for a heat pump because they have more mechanical parts.

As the saying goes, the more parts, the more opportunities for something to go wrong. So, make sure you get a tune-up twice a year. Because a heat pump works all year, it never has an “off-season.”

Advantages of a Furnace Over a Heat Pump

A furnace is terrific at heating rooms quickly. As its sole purpose, is furnace is designed to quickly and efficiently heat your home. Just be sure your furnace is properly sized for your home.

When a homeowner calls because there are uneven temperatures between rooms or their furnace frequently stops and starts, it may be because it’s too big or too small for their home.

So, make sure a qualified professional takes measurements and performs the necessary calculations to ensure your furnace is sized correctly.

Furnaces typically have a lifespan of up to 15 years, if maintained correctly. Some, with routine service and normal wear and tear, last even longer.

A furnace, unlike a heat pump, only has an indoor unit. This eliminates the risk of debris or pest infestations in an outdoor unit. A drawback, of course, is the potential for a gas leak or risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Reduce these risks when you maintain your furnace and change your air filter regularly. Perform repairs as needed and install a carbon monoxide detector.

Heat Pump and Furnace Maintenance is Easy with an Apollo Care Plan

One of the easiest ways to keep your heat pump or furnace humming smoothly is to invest in the Apollo Care Plan. The Plan covers two tune-ups per year.

With your tune-up, a NATE-certified technician thoroughly inspects your HVAC system. He or she cleans, lubricates or tests each component. Your technician also notes any signs of excessive wear and tear, which strains the equipment.

Extra stress also ages your equipment and leads to earlier breakdowns or major repairs. Avoid these problems with regular service.

The Apollo Care Plan also includes benefits such as priority scheduling, a VIP phone number and annual complimentary electrical and plumbing evaluations. Call us today to schedule a service call or to inquire about a free estimate for a heat pump or furnace.

Schedule
Call
"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
    Read Reviews
    Image

    Financing

    Learn More
    Image

    Apollo Care Plan

    Learn More