How each one works
A heat pump uses a refrigerant cycle to pull heat from outdoor air and move it indoors in winter, and reverses to move heat out in summer. A gas furnace burns natural gas in a heat exchanger and blows the warmed air through ducts.
Questions to ask before you decide
- What is the age and condition of your existing ducts?
- Does your home already have gas service, and do you plan to keep it?
- Do you want one system for heating and cooling?
- Are there utility or manufacturer rebates for the equipment you are considering?
- How much of the year do you actually need heat?
Get the sizing right
Oversized and undersized systems both waste energy and wear out sooner. A proper load calculation looks at the home's size, insulation, windows and layout rather than guessing from square footage alone.