Although Phoenix is known for its hot summers, the chilly desert nights leave people in the Valley appreciating their home heating systems each winter. Having a reliable home heating system is important so you can stay comfortable throughout the season. Before choosing a new system for your home, consider the pros and cons of some of the top options.
Furnaces
Furnaces are a common type of home heating system. They’re available with different heat sources, including electricity and gas.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces use an electrical element, such as heating strips, to warm up your home. These furnaces can be a good option if you don’t have a gas line running to your property.
Pro: Electric furnaces typically have lower installation costs than heat pumps.
Pro: Electric furnaces don’t have the potential safety issues that gas furnaces have. This can make them a safer option for Phoenix homeowners.
Pro: Electric furnaces are generally more energy-efficient than gas furnaces.
Con: These furnaces can cost more to operate due to the higher cost of electricity compared to gas costs.
Con: Electric furnaces can have a difficult time keeping homes well-heated if temperatures drop below freezing.
Gas Furnaces
Gas furnaces are home heating systems that use a heat exchanger to warm up air. The air is then circulated throughout your home.
Pro: These furnaces generally cost less to install than other types of home heating systems.
Pro: Gas furnaces tend to last longer than heat pumps and other heating systems.
Con: These furnaces depend on fossil fuels to operate, making them less environmentally friendly.
Con: Gas furnaces can create safety hazards, such as carbon monoxide leaks.
Heat Pumps
Many Phoenix area homeowners use heat pumps to warm their homes in the winter. This system works by transferring warm area from one area to another. If needed, these systems can warm up the air more before having it circulate to different parts of your home.
Pro: Heat pumps don’t rely on fossil fuels, such as gas, which makes them a cleaner source of energy.
Pro: These home heating systems do double duty by acting as air conditioners during the summer. In this case, the process switches and they pull hot air from inside your home and move it outside to cool off the interior.
Pro: Heat pumps generally use less electricity than electric furnaces.
Con: Heat pumps don’t usually last as long as furnaces since they run more often in order to heat and cool homes.
Con: Heat pumps aren’t as efficient at heating homes when temperatures drop too low. A backup source of heat, such as electrical strips, can kick in to warm up homes. This can raise energy bills.
Other Types of Home Heating Systems
Furnaces and heat pumps aren’t the only types of home heating systems available. Phoenix homeowners can also have radiant baseboard heat or radiant floor heating systems installed. These systems use electrical or water sources to heat homes. While these home heating systems are less noisy than furnaces and heat pumps, they also typically cost more to run and are quite rare in the Valley.
Rely on the Professionals
When choosing your next home heating system, consider the cost of fuel and the efficiency of the unit to help determine which option will be more cost-effective. The team of trained technicians at Forrest Anderson will work with you to understand your needs and create a solution that’s right for you.
Whether you need to replace an outdated system or you’re looking to increase your energy efficiency, we’re here to help. By understanding how you use your heat today, we can recommend a replacement system that’s energy efficient and offers you the comfort you desire.
Are you thinking of replacing or upgrading your HVAC system? Contact Forrest Anderson to discuss which home heating system would be best for you.
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