Natural gas is a great choice to heat your Waterford, MI home, but it’s not the only choice. In fact, for many people it’s not even a choice because they don’t have natural gas service. And, depending on supply and demand, the price of propane (LPG) can fluctuate widely. Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing offers another viable choice for home heating with electric: heat pumps.
Air source heat pumps
If you are not familiar with heat pumps or need a quick refresher here are the cliff notes:
- Heat pumps do not heat the air, instead, they transfer heat.
- A compressor squeezes existing heat out of the outside air & transfers it to your home.
- The process is reversed during warm weather, so a heat pump works just like an air conditioner to cool your home.
You can’t get heat from cold air can you?
Well, yes you can. At the risk of bringing back nightmares from a physics class, there is heat in the air until you reach what scientists call absolute zero (-459.67℉). So even when it’s 15 or 20 degrees outside your Waterford, MI house, it is possible to squeeze out heat to warm your home.
Rapid advances in technology
Not too many years ago Kotz would not have recommended heat pumps because of our cold winters, but technology has changed. Most systems also come with an electrical heating element which kicks in during really cold weather to provide supplemental heat.
Is a heat pump right more me?
If you are thinking about a heating replacement, part of the answer is personal preference and which kind of heat makes you comfortable. Heat pumps and natural gas furnaces are both forced-air systems. A furnace heats the air to a much higher temperature and the air blowing around the house will feel warm on your skin. The heated air from a heat pump is generally lower than your body temperature. The moving air may feel cool on the skin even while warming your home. If that’s a huge factor, you may want to opt for a traditional furnace.
Dual fuel systems
For complete comfort, some people will opt for installing a gas furnace as a form of supplemental heat. During normal winter weather, the heat pump is capable of warming the home more efficiently than the furnace. If very cold weather hits, the furnace kicks in to take over for it.
Kotz is here to help
If you still have questions about choosing between a heat pump or natural gas furnace for your heating replacement, call Kotz Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. We’ll be happy to talk with you about the pros and cons of each and provide you with a no-obligation estimate. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
