How Heat Pumps and Furnaces Compare When It Comes to Your Home’s HVAC Needs

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If heating performance was dismal last year, or you’re considering the costs of possible furnace or heat pump replacement parts and labor, you may also be considering a new heating system. It helps to have the latest information when comparing heat pumps and furnaces for home heating, so keep reading.

Workhorse Furnaces

Gas furnaces are the mainstay heating systems for homes in the greater Cincinnati area and for good reason. A correctly-sized furnace meets home heating needs fully and efficiently, and a professionally installed furnace may last 20 years or more. Plus, furnaces use a reliable and practical energy source.

Moreover, new high-efficiency furnaces are safer to operate with sealed combustion and venting, and have annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings as high as 98. High fuel efficiency is achieved using quieter and more reliable technologies for multi-stage and modulating combustion and airflow.

Heat Pumps: Multitaskers

Heat pumps use electrically-driven components to move heat energy by manipulating high-efficiency refrigerant through a series of temperature and pressure changes. Like furnaces, heat pumps may deliver multi-speed or variable-speed airflow. Moreover, you don’t need a separate cooling system with a heat pump as you do with a furnace.

Heat pumps may heat water more efficiently than an electric or gas-powered storage water heater by recovering waste heat energy. A desuperheater is the add-on heat exchanger that performs water heating, which, by the way, may also be used to heat water for a pool and hot tub.

Why Not Combine the Two?

Heat pumps and furnaces may be paired to provide the most efficient home heating at any given time based on outside weather conditions. Known as dual-fuel or hybrid systems, the heat pump provides home cooling and dehumidification during the summer season and delivers efficient heating near the freezing point. When the heating demand is too much for the heat pump, the gas furnace engages to meet the home’s heating needs.

Heat pumps and furnaces offer distinct advantages separately and combined. Work closely with your HVAC professional to make the best choice for your greater Cincinnati Ohio home. Please contact Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing for more information.

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"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.
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