Heat Pump vs. Air Conditioner: Which One is Right for Cooling Your Home

Although heat is part of the name, you can use a heat pump for air conditioning. It works by shifting heat instead of making it (the way a furnace does) which is why it is used as a heating and cooling unit. It’s true that heat pumps can be very efficient, although most air conditioners are about equal in terms of energy efficiency. Just examine these two luxury level systems from Lennox. 

What is SEER and HSPF? 

SEER is an efficiency scale for ACs, and the higher the number, the cheaper it is to operate. The difference between 23.5 and 26 is not crazy however, and the efficiency changes depending on the model. On the other hand, HSPF is a different standard that stands for “heating seasonal performance factor” and is unique to heat pumps. It tells you how efficient the equipment is at heating. We can see from these examples by looking at the SEER rating, air conditioners are almost equal, if not superior depending on the AC you choose. The largest difference between them is that heat pumps can also warm up your home while an AC can’t. 

Does climate matter for heat pumps? 

Heat pumps are much more effective in hotter climates with milder winters, save for some integrated systems that use heat pumps as a backup, such as with a geothermal system. We encourage you to consult with a ACE certified HVAC tech who has experience in your area before getting your heart set on a heat pump. If the equipment just isn’t right for your home, you could have very high electric bills. Once the temperature sinks too low, it’s near impossible for the heat pump to draw heat out of the air and it may never warm your home to the temperature you set. This means you might unknowingly begin running your heat pump non-stop or switching on emergency heat 24/7 during winter which drives your energy consumption through the roof. 

How does a heat pump compare with a furnace? 

A furnace is a more powerful heating system and is critical for certain colder climates. That’s because a heat pump has difficulty when the temperatures hit about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or 4.4 degrees Celsius. As weird as it seems, during cooler temperatures, a heat pump is designed to extract heat from the outdoors and use it to heat the inside air. Although it may be too cool outside for comfort, there is still an adequate amount of heat for the heat pump to operate correctly, but in exceptionally cold climates there is not sufficient heat available outside to heat the air inside to high enough temperatures needed to keep warm. So while a heat pump may be ideal during the cooler temperatures for someone in Daytona Beach, someone living in upstate New York with a heat pump would likely also need a furnace for the more extreme temperatures. If you don’t have a furnace that kicks in when the freezing temperatures hit, the heat pump can run for hours trying to keep your home warm enough. 

How to achieve maximum efficiency with your heat pump 

In certain areas, heat pumps can be used with geothermal systems, and the heating source is better for the environment because it is not burning fossil fuels and, instead, uses the Earth’s natural temperature to heat and cool. This is a wonderful alternative for specific northern regions, but more land must be available in order to install the correct piping for a geothermal system. 
 
Just what you needed – one more thing to think about when it comes to your home comfort; but, remember, it’s important to review the pros and cons of each heating and cooling system so you don’t end up purchasing a system that shuts down when extreme temperatures hit, or investing in multiple systems when one would suffice. 
 
If you’re not sure which system would work best for you, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule a no-charge in-home quote. We are here to answer any and all of your questions to help you make the right decision for your home.