Heat Pump or Air Conditioner: Which Should I Get for My San Diego Home?
If you are a homeowner, you understand how hot your San Diego house can get at times during the summer. How can you stay cool this summer? When it comes to home cooling, homeowners typically have two centralized options, heat pumps or air conditioners. While you may think that they are the same thing, they actually have some key differences that make some people prefer one over the other. So, what are those differences and what are the pros and cons of each? Use this guide below to help you determine which system is right for you!
Heat Pumps vs. Air Conditioners: What is the difference?
To understand the differences between the two systems, you first need to understand the similarities. Both systems do the basic same job when the heat pump is in cooling mode, they work to transfer hot air out of your house and replace it with cool air. In fact, they share many of the same components. The key difference is that a heat pump will also work to heat your home in the winter, where an air conditioner relies on a furnace to do that job. Essentially, a heat pump is an all-in-one heater and cooler!
Pros and Cons of Using a Heat Pump
Now that you know the differences between a heat pump and an AC, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of owning a heat pump.
Pros
Heat pumps are great because they are an all-in-one system making maintenance smooth and easy. In addition, they are incredibly efficient! The system does not burn any fossil fuels or force you to rely on the burning of a natural gas, unlike some furnaces. Heat pumps are especially great for people who live in climates that feature hotter summers and cool winters, such as San Diego and the surrounding area, because you can rely on them all year long!
A major benefit of switching to a heat pump is the TECH Clean California Initiative which offers homeowners up to $6,600 if they switch to “electrify” their home. A switch to a heat pump would help in that effort and could offer a rebate.
Cons
Unfortunately, the pros of heats pumps also lead to some of the cons. For example, because they are operated with electricity, any power outage will leave you without heat or cool air. Heat pumps are also more necessary to check up on and could need replaced more often than a traditional HVAC system.
Pros and Cons of Using Air Conditioners
So, now we have looked at the pros and cons of heat pumps, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of air conditioners.
Pros
To begin, AC units are much more concentrated than a heat pump. While a heat pump is great because it can both heat and cool a home, an air conditioner only cools the home, and it is very effective. In addition, they also filter the air you breathe, improving IAQ.
Cons
The main con of an air conditioner vs. a heat pump is, of course, their inability to create heat on their own. In order to heat your home, you will need a completely different system, and with it, the space for a completely different system.
Which is Right for You?
While everybody’s situation is different, both systems are great for cooling your entire home, with heat pumps having that extra feature tied in. Whether you decide to go with a heat pump, or an air conditioner, Same Day Heating and Air Conditioning is here for you! Visit us for all of your HVAC needs, our professionals are always happy to help!
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