Gas furnace vs. Electric Heat Pump?

**blitzen** · 04-23-2008, 02:13 PM

We currently have a 50+ year old oil furnace. We have decided it's time to replace it and are trying to decide on whether to replace with gas or go with a heat pump.

Price-wise, they come out to about the same, since we don't have a gas line to the house we will have to pay for that on top of the cost of the furnace installation. Either way, we are looking at between $5-6000. Ouch!

I've used gas heat before, but have no experience with a heat pump so I don't know how to compare them and figure out what would work better for us. Any insight? If you have a heat pump, what do you like/dislike about it? If oil wasn't so expensive, I'd just replace it with an oil furnace, but I am afraid of what the price per gallon is going to be this winter. Plus, if we convert to a high efficiency gas furnace or an electric heat pump we won't have to use our chimney to vent (which happens to run up through our kitchen) which means we can take out the chimney and gain some valuable space in our kitchen (which is really small!)

**escapethevillage** · 04-23-2008, 05:59 PM

I have no idea. We only use our heater for an hour in the mornings for a month or so.

We have natural gas, and the monthly bills in the winter are about $55. But, we get slammed in the summer on electricity.

**bluebird728** · 04-23-2008, 07:06 PM

Go with gas. I have a heat pump and it is terrible. Plus when it is very cold (by California standards) the efficiency of the heat pump goes way down - obviously the worst possible time for that to happen. IMHO The only advantage of a heat pump is that AC and heat can be in the same unit.

**Dad_of_4** · 04-23-2008, 07:16 PM

My parents live in Southern Indiana and have a SEER 12 heat pump. it is great and affordable. The electric heater (emergency heat) rarely comes on and it keeps their house very cool very cheap all summer. If you have a fireplace use it on cold days and you won't even need the emergency heat.

**annymoll** · 04-23-2008, 07:48 PM

We converted from gas to electric and the cost is similar. I cannot stand the smell of the chemicals they put in the natural gas and propane- gas stinks.I use the fireplaces also and keep my chair closest to them because I get cold easily.I seldom use the air but when we do it is nice and even. I think electric is the way to go.

**TheRootedNomad** · 04-23-2008, 08:00 PM

Hubby works in heating and air. He said if you plan on staying put for awhile you probably want to go dualfuel. This is actually both. He said it is generally a little more to put in but pays off in cost efficiency in the long run. He said if you choose one or the other you need to go with the gas. A heat pump is going to run you both arms and legs in the winter and you WILL still be could once the temp drops below 35. He said some other things I didn't quite get either so if you need more info pm me and I'll just make him type a response.

Hope that helps.

Oh mark ups on equipment in the field are incredibly high at the very least play price wars with the companies. Better yet if you know someone in the field see if they can get someone to do it as a side job.

Do not let anyone put in janitrol eguipment all the guys here call it JUNkatrol. Aarco air is good eguipment. (I think it's by the same company that makes Trane. Hubbys had some problems with one of the new trane models recently though)

**blitzen** · 04-24-2008, 10:57 PM

Thanks for the input! The choices are staggering, and the prices even more so!

We had another company come over and give us a quote. Yikes!

**itlw8** · 04-25-2008, 05:09 PM

we have both the heat pump is also the central air... so it warms us in the winter and cools us in the summer but in the winter when the temp drops below a certain degree the gas furnace cuts on instead of the heat pump..

We are very happy except it is 10 yrs old so I am sure they make more efficient ones now.

**jakchzz** · 05-13-2008, 07:53 AM

It depends on a few things particular to your house or area and lifestyle. Have you compared the price of NG and electricity in your area? What % of the cost is running the gas line? Do you have A/C now? Does the cost of the gas furnace include A/C?Can you predict which will cost more in the future-NG or electricity? Your Contractor/estimator should be able to tell you the annual cost to run.