Heat Pump vs. Air Conditioner: Which Is Right for You?

According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), almost 90% of American households use some type of air conditioning system. For two out of three homes, a central air conditioner (AC) or heat pump is the main source of conditioned air.

During the hottest month of the year, Fort Collins reaches highs of 87°F and lows of 59°F. Because of this, many Fort Collins residents use heat pumps and ACs to cool their homes. 

If you are interested in installing air conditioning, there are a few options you can choose. While heat pumps and air conditioners both use refrigerants to cool your home, there are a few important differences between these two devices. 

How a Heat Pump Works 

Heat pumps are a popular way to cool your home. Unlike air conditioners, they can also heat your home in winter. During the summer, the heat pump can transfer heat from your indoor environment to the outside world. Then, it can reverse this heat transfer in the winter so that residual heat in the environment is brought into your house. 

This heat-transferring process uses refrigerant as your air conditioner does. Because of how versatile the heat pump is, you don’t have to get a secondary heating or cooling system to keep your home at the appropriate temperature throughout the year. 

Heat Pump Benefits 

There are a few key advantages to using a heat pump. 

• No Gas Leaks: Heat pumps run on electricity, eliminating the risk of propane or natural gas leaks.
• Year-Round Comfort: With a heat pump, you can heat or cool your home whenever you need to.
• Fewer Temperature Fluctuations: Because heat pumps don’t produce the same heat intensity as furnaces, they have longer run cycles. Both of these factors mean that your average temperature won’t fluctuate nearly as much.
• Improved Energy Efficiency: Compared to an electric furnace, a heat pump can decrease the electricity you use by up to 65%.

Heat Pump Drawbacks 

Before purchasing a heat pump, it’s important to consider some of the disadvantages as well. 

• Higher Installation Costs: Heat pumps are more complex than air conditioners, so the installation costs tend to be higher. 
• Defrost Mode: When the temperatures get below freezing, the heat pump has a special feature called defrost mode. Instead of letting the outside unit freeze up, the heat pump switches from warming your home to defrosting the outdoor unit. In addition to costing more in energy costs, this can limit some of the heat pump’s ability to heat your home on especially cold days.
• Lowered Efficiency in Cold Weather: Older generations of heat pumps were less efficient in extremely cold weather. Fortunately, this is less of a problem with new models, which are quite effective at operating in cold climates.

How an Air Conditioner Works 

Like a heat pump, an air conditioner uses refrigerant to transfer heat from inside your home to the outside world. It has an indoor and outdoor unit that works together to circulate refrigerant. 

Smaller air conditioning systems, like window units, don’t have indoor and outdoor units like central ACs do. Instead, they must vent hot air through a window. However, the underlying refrigerant-based technology is essentially the same.

Air Conditioner Benefits

By getting an air conditioner, you can enjoy a range of benefits. 

• Improved Indoor Air Quality: Air conditioners have filters, which can remove harmful contaminants from the air.
• Better Humidity Control: Your air conditioner is also designed to manage the humidity in the air. As a result, you can avoid mold growth and enjoy a more comfortable home. 
• Comfortable Summers: Air conditioners are excellent at keeping your indoor air temperature at a cool, stable level all summer long.
• Good Energy Efficiency: ACs are an extremely effective way to cool your home. While central air conditioners are an energy-efficient option for cooling an entire home, ductless mini-splits are great if you only want to cool a single room or area. No matter what AC type you choose, you can save money by looking for ACs that have a better seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) or an ENERGY STAR certification. 

Air Conditioner Drawbacks 

However, before you invest in an air conditioner, you should carefully consider the downsides. 

• Ductwork Requirements: Central air conditioners require ducts to deliver cold air to your rooms. If you don’t already have ducts, you’ll need to get them. However, you could get ductless mini-splits instead of a central AC. Unlike central ACs, ductless mini-splits don’t require ductwork.
• Lack of Heat: While air conditioners are great at cooling your home, they are unable to provide heat during the winter.
• Expensive to Operate: If you only need to cool a single room, central air conditioners might not be your best option. They are designed to cool your entire house, which is less efficient if you’re only using one area. However, there are alternative air conditioners, like portable units and ductless mini-splits, that can be set up for individual rooms. 

Factors to Help You Decide Between a Heat Pump or an Air Conditioner 

If you’re thinking about getting a heat pump or an air conditioner, you’ll find that these two devices have many similarities. Both are designed to transfer heat using compressed refrigerants. If you’re not an HVAC expert, the outdoor units even look fairly similar. 

When upgrading your HVAC system, there are a few factors you should consider. You can also check out our HVAC services guide to learn more about maintenance and HVAC installations.

Budget

In general, heat pumps are more expensive to install. However, they save you money in the long run because they pump out more hot air for the same amount of energy.

Energy Efficiency 

When it comes to heat pumps and air conditioners, you can easily find varieties of both devices that have high energy-efficiency ratings. All you need to do is check the SEER rating to see how energy-efficient the device is.

Ductwork Requirements

While central air conditioners require ductwork, heat pumps don’t always need it. Depending on the type of heat pump, you may be able to avoid installing ductwork. Ductless mini-splits, portable ACs, and window units also don’t require ductwork. If you don’t already have ducts in your home, you can save money by picking an installation option that doesn’t require it.

Heating Abilities

An air conditioner can’t heat your home in winter. However, a heat pump can. If you don’t have an alternative heating source, you may want to invest in a heat pump. 

Is a Heat Pump or an Air Conditioner a Better Choice? 

Ultimately, the choice between a heat pump and an air conditioner depends on what you need from your HVAC equipment. If you are unsure what to get, Hooley Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Reach out to us today to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of heat pumps and ACs.