Heat Pump vs. Furnace: Which Is Right for Your Home?

Written by topgunairtx on November 7, 2024. Posted in Heating.

Heat pumps and furnaces have the same job: heat the air in your home. However, each system differs in price, efficiency, and versatility. For some homes, there is an obvious choice between the two, and for others, the question of heat pump vs. furnace is more complex.

At Top Gun Heating & Air, we provide top-tier heat pump installations and furnace installations—let us help recommend the best heating solution for you. In the following segments, we break down the pros, cons, and features of both systems so that you know which system best fits your home’s needs.

What Is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a dual heating and cooling system that transfers heat using electricity. It moves outdoor heat into your home during the winter and does the opposite in the summer, transferring indoor heat outside.

There are a few different kinds of heat pumps:

Air-source heat pump: takes heat from the air outside.
Ground-source heat pump: harnesses heat from the ground outside.
Hybrid heat pump: works in tandem with a furnace or boiler.
Mini-split heat pump: uses no ducts and is ideal for smaller spaces/open floor plans.

Heat pumps are optimal in mild climates where winters aren’t typically frigid and have several benefits, including:

High energy efficiency
Zero carbon emissions
Dual heating and cooling functionality

What Is a Furnace?

A furnace burns fuel to generate heat in your home. Natural gas furnaces are the most common variety, followed by electric furnaces; however, some older systems still burn oil. While heat pumps are optimal in milder climates, furnaces thrive in climates with harsh winters.

Furnaces have powerful heating capabilities and are well-suited for even the worst blizzards and negative-degree days. When regularly maintained, furnaces are highly reliable and rarely encounter issues.

Key Differences Between Heat Pumps and Furnaces

The answer to the heat pump vs. furnace debate typically lies in the hands of the homeowner. Each has its positives and negatives, so let’s compare efficiency, operating costs, and more:

Energy Source

Heat pumps run exclusively on electricity, whereas furnaces have three fuel options: gas, electricity, and oil.

Efficiency

When comparing heat pump efficiency vs. furnace efficiency, heat pumps excel. Heat pumps don’t have to create heat—they transfer heat between the inside and outside of a home. Furnaces have to generate their own heat, which requires higher energy use.

Cost to Install

Heat pump vs. furnace cost depends on the square footage of your home, but furnaces will typically be cheaper to install. According to the American Gas Association, new heat pumps usually cost between $2,500 and $10,000 to install, while a natural gas furnace is between $700 and $3,300.

Cost to Operate

When comparing heat pump vs. gas furnace operating costs in Texas, heat pumps cost less overall. According to the American Gas Association, heat pumps cost between $156-$185 to operate annually in Texas. Operating a furnace will cost between $168-$203. Note that these are only heat-related costs—air conditioning is not included in these heat pump numbers.

Performance in Cold Weather

Heat pumps are most effective in states with mild climates like Texas, where extreme cold temperatures are rare. In cases of extreme cold, furnaces are more reliable and generate more heat.

Environmental Impact

Heat pumps are an eco-friendly heating option, producing zero carbon emissions and relying on heat from the ground and air. As for furnaces, environmental impact depends on your unit. Gas and oil furnaces will burn fossil fuels, but electric furnaces produce zero carbon emissions on their own. An electric furnace’s electricity usage may be sourced from fossil fuels, making its energy efficiency much lower than a heat pump’s.

Pros and Cons of Heat Pumps

Pros:

- Energy efficient, especially in mild climates
- Dual functionality allows it to cool your home in hot weather
- Environmentally friendly

Cons:

- Less effective in cold climates
- Higher upfront installation costs
- May require supplementary heating

Pros and Cons of Furnaces

Pros:

- Reliable heat in cold climates
- Lower initial installation cost (in most cases)
- Long lifespan with proper maintenance

Cons:

- Higher operational costs, especially with fossil fuel-based models
- Not energy efficient compared to heat pumps
- Limited functionality (heating only)

Which System Is Best for You?

In the end, deciding between a heat pump and furnace for your home comes down to your personal preferences and specific heating needs. To make sure you’re choosing the right heating system, consult with one of our HVAC professionals to learn more about the benefits of each system.

It’s important to consider the following when deciding between a furnace and a heat pump:

Climate: Are your winters mild or freezing?

Budget: Which upfront and long-term costs are best for your finances?

Environmental concerns: Is an eco-friendly option important to you?

Existing infrastructure: Does your home have ductwork or access to gas lines?

Contact Top Gun Heating & Air for Your Heat Pump and Furnace Needs

The question of heat pump vs. furnace has many answers, as the right choice for your home may be different than the right choice for a home 10 miles away. The heating experts at Top Gun Heating & Air can give you a thorough consultation for your home heating needs—we will detail installation costs, long-term costs, and heating capabilities to ensure that you know exactly what you’re investing in.

For a free heat pump/furnace consultation, book an appointment with Top Gun Heating & Air online or call us at (682) 297-3082 today!

How Much Do Furnace Repairs Cost?

Written by topgunairtx on December 1, 2021. Posted in Heating.

Top Gun Heating & Air services is one of the best in the business when it comes to heating repair in the Fort Worth area. That being said, we guarantee that you will receive the absolute best service possible. We also won’t gouge you on the price. Now that the cold weather is coming, it is good to have a general idea of what it takes to repair a furnace. Service fees will typically run from $50 to $100 and could be more in the event of an emergency. The average cost for a furnace repair is around $300. This is for your typical maintenance and if a furnace is not routinely maintained could result in significantly higher repair costs.

Top Gun is completely transparent when it comes to pricing. We like to give our customers the best furnace repair pricing in the Fort Worth area.

Approximate Costs of Common Furnace Repairs

Costs may vary between HVAC companies. The average costs for a furnace repair is as follows:

Faulty ignitors: $300 – $400
Replacing the thermostat: $20 – $200+, depending on the new model you select
Flame sensors: $80 – $250
Furnace motor: $400 – $1,500, however could be more depending on the severity of the problem

Signs Your Furnace Requires Repair

Top Gun suggests that your furnace is routinely maintained so you can avoid the costly repairs. We can provide you with routine service at a cheap price. Think of this as getting the oil changed on your car. It needs to be done to avoid costly repairs. We don’t want it to be too late before you need to call us for an emergency repair. If your heating system is not producing heat or is making weird noises then it may be time to call us. In the meantime, here are some things to pay attention to:

New or sudden noises such as grinding, screeching, hissing, rattling, or clanking
Bad smells such as rotten eggs or anything of that sort
Any smell of anything burning
The lack of heat produced by your heating system
Increased cost of your energy bill

To Repair or Replace a Furnace?

In the event that you experience a high repair cost of your furnace, it may be worth it into looking into replacing your heating system. If your heating system problems comes to this consider the following:

Age of your furnace: If your furnace is nearing 15 years old, it may be time to replace it with a new, more energy efficient system. Tax credits may be received when upgrading depending on the situation.
Cost of repairs: If the cost is near half of a new furnace, it may be time to replace your heating system. Typically new systems come with warranties that will help protect you with unforeseen costs
Frequency of repairs: If your heating system requires constant repair, it may be time to buy a more reliable system.

For any of these needs, Top Gun Air can help you. We will give you the best service for you Fort Worth heating repair. All you need to do is call us or request a quote.

Leak Stop

Written by topgunairtx on December 1, 2021. Posted in Heating.

A/C Leak Stop: Good or Bad?

Although it may seem like a slam dunk solution for those small persistent leaks in your air conditioning system that require topping off year after year. There are however two different schools of thought on application of leak stop. On one hand you have HVAC professionals who insist nothing should ever be present in the system except refrigerant and oil. On the other, there are those that insist that it comes down to using a trusted product. Since it is not a permanent repair, there are specific, but limited uses for it.

What is Leak Stop?

An air conditioning system is a closed loop system, meaning all the refrigerant is hermetically sealed in it. The same amount of refrigerant that existed in the system since installation is the same amount you should always have. Sometimes small leaks occur, usually do to improper installation practices. An HVAC service professional may offer you leak stop as a repair option, but is that the right choice? This depends on the size of the leak. A service professional should always try to identify the source of the leak first and calculate the rate at which its leaking.

Leak stop is not a guaranteed solution. Its application is very specific and limited, but often abused and misapplied. Leak stop is basically fix-a-flat for your leaking air conditioning coils. Its composed of a formula that seals small leaks in the coils. The key word is small, leak stop will have hardly any effect on larger leaks.

The key thing to remember through all this, is that if your system leaks at all it must be repaired or have the defective part replaced. The EPA does not like to see systems topped off continuously year after year. In 2019 the EPA is cracking down on systems with over 50 lbs with leak rates greater than 10 percent a year. They have issued a directive to repair or replace or be subject to fines.

I Have a Leak, Now What?

An HVAC service company is equipped with many ways to find and fix leaks. The usual method is electronic leak detection. Micro leaks are harder to access usually and therefore harder to locate even with the most advanced leak detectors on the market. There are additives like UV dyes that can be added to the HVAC system. These require a second visit and inspection with a UV light to determine the location(s) of the leak. If a leak is present but unable to be located, leak stop may be a viable solution.

Using the criteria listed below to determine if leak stop is appropriate.

Hard to find leaks
Leaks is not accessible
Multiple micro leaks
System is R22 based and very old

We are seeing a large number of micro leaks in the channels of the evaporator coils used in systems today. In these cases leak stop could be an effective, lower cost solution that replacing. First though, the company servicing the equipment should check the status of the units warranty with the manufacturer. If the unit is still covered by the manufacturers warranty, you should consider warranty replacement. This does not cover labor costs though and can still be a repair costing in excess of $1000. Another consideration is voiding the manufacturers warranty by injecting additives into it. Many manufacturers have taken the position, that if they can prove a stop leak agent was used in the system, the warranty is then void.

An Ounce of Prevention…

The saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to leak in your air conditioning unit there is simply no substitute for proper installation practices. Clean, dry and tight are the words we use to describe proper installation of refrigerant piping. At Top Gun Heating & Air services we say the most important day in the life of a system, is the day its installed. Proper air conditioner installation practices include using nitrogen during brazing, pressure testing, and pulling a triple vacuum with a micron gauge to ensure all the moisture present in the system is evacuated. If you have a leak in your air conditioning system, don’t hesitate to give us a call or fill out a service request form by clicking here.