Local homeowners often ask us which heating option is best for their home in the KC area—should they choose a heat pump or just a furnace system? Our answer isn’t quite a “this or that” response. If you choose to rely on a Kansas City heat pump for your heating and cooling system, you will also need a backup furnace. While most residents use traditional furnaces to heat their homes, some of your neighbors still do add a heat pump to their indoor air system to reap the year-round, energy-efficient benefits.
At Top Notch, we’ve been installing, replacing, inspecting, and maintaining both heat pumps and furnaces for over 40 years throughout the Overland Park, Olathe, Mission Hills, and the surrounding areas
Benefits of Heat Pumps
There are many advantages to installing a heat pump for your home. Keep in mind that with a heat pump, you will also need a backup furnace. With this system, heat pumps will be your primary heating and cooling source and are:
- Extremely efficient – instead of converting electricity into heat (raising your energy bills), heat pumps absorb warmth from the ground and bring that warmed air into your home. Heat pumps are generally much more energy-efficient than traditional furnaces.
- Cost effective – since heat pumps are very energy efficient, they usually lower your energy bills. Less energy is required to heat your home, so you might find yourself paying less month-to-month.
- Year-round home comfort – heat pumps do not only heat your home, they can be used as your cooling system too, instead of that window unit air conditioner or whole-house AC unit. The heat pump pulls from the colder ground in the summer to help make your home comfortably cool.
- Consistent heating – forget about drafty hallways or certain rooms in your home that never heat as well; this is not an issue with a heat pump system. Different areas of your home will be consistent in temperature and warmth.
Heat pumps typically last 15 years—plenty of time for your home to reap the benefits of a heat pump system. Call the experts at Top Notch today to schedule your heat pump installation »
Why install a heat pump if you need a backup furnace too?
Heat pumps can actually replace your air conditioner, since they work year-round to heat and cool your home. Don’t be deceived by the name “heat pump”—the system can also help keep your home cool during the summer.
Disadvantages of Heat Pumps
The initial purchase of your heat pump system may cost more than buying a traditional oil furnace. While the installation cost may be a deterrent, you should view it as an investment, as your savings on future energy bills will most likely make up for the initial cost.
In the Kansas City area, if you have a heat pump you need a backup furnace as well since temperatures can remain consistently below freezing in the winter. Supplemental heating, like a backup furnace, is required on extended periods of temperatures below freezing.
Heat pumps—more technical and specialized in nature—must be installed by a local heating company. Professional experience is required to ensure that the system works right and efficiently in order to ensure maximum savings on heating bills.
At Top Notch, our experienced heating technicians have over 40 years of experience installing heat pumps for your (and nearby) neighborhood. Check out what your neighbors have said about our heating installation and services »
Benefits of a New Furnace
Not sure a heat pump is for you? Most homes in the Kansas City area solely use gas or oil furnaces to heat their homes throughout the winter—and there are many benefits as to why your neighbors are doing it! If your furnace is over 10 years old, it may be time to replace it, and luckily, there are financial and home comfort benefits to installing a new, more energy-efficient furnace! Here are just a few:
Newer energy efficient models – with time and improving technology, furnaces become more energy efficient—meaning you spend less on heating your home. The efficiency of a furnace is measured by AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency, and some furnaces have an AFUE of up to 95 percent. That means that 95 percent of the energy used to run the furnace goes directly toward heating your home.
Extended lifespan – newer furnace models usually last 15 to 20 years. If you plan to be in your home for an extended time, think about installing a furnace to last the long haul with you. With annual tune-ups and maintenance, furnaces can continue to run efficiently for years to come.
Heating throughout the winter – some heat pumps cannot operate when the temperatures stay below zero, but furnaces are able to operate all winter long to ensure that your home stays warm.
Looking for an estimate on a new replacement furnace? Click here to learn more about Top Notch’s furnace installation services »
Heating Installation & Services in Kansas City, MO & Lenexa, KS
Selecting your method of home heating system is a serious choice and you should weigh your options carefully. When you hire Top Notch Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, for your furnace and heat pump services in the Kansas City area, you’ll get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are dealing with professional and licensed HVAC technicians. We’ve been providing top quality heating services for over 40 years and we make sure to get the job done right, the first time, and every time.
Contact us today to discuss your home heating needs before winter settles into the KC metro area!
