Replacing heating furnace

Nadeem
by Nadeem
My home has 25 years old propane fired furnace. Thinking about getting a 15.5 SEER heat pump or high efficiency propane heater. Which one is better comfort and cost wise?
  5 answers
  • I have to tell you that if you have had propane heat for 25 years you will freeze to death with a heat pump. We live in the South and heat pumps are not efficient and they do not put out hot air like gas furnaces. The new efficient ones are great and have friends who have them but the output of heat is about 20degrees different than gas. Get estimates from reputable dealers and even ask people their opinions but there is a difference between gas and electric heat. Hope this helps.
  • Nadeem Nadeem on Nov 19, 2014
    Thanks! Actually my main concern is that heat pump would not be able to cope with our New Jersey cold.
  • Jennifer B Jennifer B on Nov 20, 2014
    When the temp falls below about 30, the heat pump can no longer pull enough heat out of the outside air to heat your home. It uses a back-up heat source, usually heat-strips, which are electric but not very efficient. If you went with a "dual fuel" system your back-up heat would be propane. You system would work like a heat pump in milder temps and be a propane furnace in extreme temps. Depending on the cost of propane and electricity, this may or may not be a better solution. Also, propane will deliver heat at higher temperatures than your heat pump can. If you wanted to do "dual-fuel" you would likely have to replace all your equipment to get to 15 seer (definitely the evaporator coil, and you may need a variable speed furnace). Hope that helps.
  • Victoria Cross Victoria Cross on Nov 20, 2014
    You do not want a heat pump since you live in New Jersey. I live in Maryland and last year (although extreme due to Polar Vortex) my house never got above 59 degrees so I had to use space heaters for the rooms we occupied. Heat pumps do not work if the temperature is below freezing for more than 24 hours. If you can't convert to a natural gas system, go with the upgraded propane system. The next place I live in will not have a heat pump (or electric heat).
  • Maggie Maggie on Nov 23, 2014
    Live in Ohio, used to have heat pump w/ propane "duel fuel?". Heat pump heat very cold, started using straight propane when temp went under 40. Fortunately now have natural gas, much cheaper (check out your smaller local companies) , replaced heat pump with AC unit only, use straight gas furnace during cold months, VERY happy with it.