HEAT PUMP vs FURNACE/AC
HEAT PUMP vs FURNACE/AC
(OP)
In a cold country like Canada, do heat pumps work in the winter?
Do heat pumps have any advantage over conventional furnace and air-conditioning systems (for houses).
A company in Maine manufactures so-called "low-temperature" heat pumps - does anybody have any experience with this line of products?
Do heat pumps have any advantage over conventional furnace and air-conditioning systems (for houses).
A company in Maine manufactures so-called "low-temperature" heat pumps - does anybody have any experience with this line of products?





RE: HEAT PUMP vs FURNACE/AC
The issue with an air-source heat pump is that the colder it is outside, the less capacity is available for heating. Which means, you need a larger and larger heat pump (with electric heating coil).
Likely, this will result in oversizing (with much cycling) in the summer.
A secondary issue is the efficiency of the heat pump (COP). For the sake of argument we'll say that an air-source heat pump is 3x as efficient as a gas-furnace (I would argue this is only true in mild temperatures as the efficiency also drops at very low temperatures). The cost of electricity as a heating source ranges from 1.5X to 4X the cost of natural gas, which frequently will eliminate any cost benefits.
A final issue is that I have never seen an air-source heat pump capable of operating down to my lowest design temperature, I imagine other cold countries would have this issue.
RE: HEAT PUMP vs FURNACE/AC