Heat Pumps vs. Air Conditioners: Which One Should You Get?

It may be time to buy a new cooling system. Both an air conditioner and a heat pump will make a good choice. However, you may ask yourself this: which one will work better for my home? Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between heat pumps vs. air conditioners to help you decide on which to purchase.

What Makes Them Similar?

A heat pump and an air conditioner are both used as cooling systems. The two units absorb heat from indoors and move it outside. This is what brings down the temperature inside your home.

What Makes Them Different?

Although they both provide you with cool air, a heat pump is the only one between the two that can also give you warmth. It has a switch you can flip to change from cooling to heating mode. A heat pump gets warm air from the outdoors, even if it’s cold outside, and brings it indoors. The hot air is then released to bring the temperature up inside your home.

Which One Should You Get?

You may be wondering about other factors that can affect your purchase. Here are other things that you can consider when it comes to getting a heat pump or air conditioner:

• Cost of Expenses – Generally, a heat pump has a higher upfront cost. This is because it provides you with more functions compared to an AC.

 

• Energy-Efficiency – This can be judged by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings. Both a heat pump and air conditioner have units that rank high, which means that they are both energy-efficient. However, energy consumption can also depend on your location. For example, if you live in an area that experiences extremely cold winters, your heat pump will need to work harder to get hot air from outside to indoors.

 

• Longevity – Air conditioners typically have a longer life span than heat pumps. This is because AC units are normally used during warm seasons only. On the other hand, since heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling, they tend to be utilized all year round.

Get Heating and AC Assistance With Roth Heating & Air

After reading about heat pumps vs. air conditioners, have you decided on which unit works better for you? If you haven’t yet, our team at Roth Heating & Air can help you with that. Just give us a call, so we can assist you in picking out the right HVAC system for your home. You can also browse our store for heat pump and AC products that you may need.