The weather is starting to cool down in the Encino, CA area! With the change in season come thoughts of heating systems, furnaces, and heat pumps. If your heating system is older or starting to get worn down, now is the time to consider a replacement. It’s important to have a reliable, dependable heating system in Encino to ensure your home stays safe and comfortable all year long.
That said, a heating system represents a sizable investment. You need to be certain that you have the right unit for your needs.
In Encino, you have two basic options for heating: a gas furnace or a heat pump. Here are some considerations from the team at Aladdin Air Conditioning & Heating to help you make the right choice.
Advantages of a Gas Furnace
The majority of furnaces in Encino are gas furnaces. These use natural gas to heat air and force it through your ductwork in order to heat your home. This is an effective way to keep the home warm, and it is a reliable heating option.
Gas furnaces have significant benefits over older, oil-based furnaces, as they cost less to run. For this reason, natural gas is becoming the go-to choice for homeowners wishing to heat their homes using a furnace. If well maintained, a gas furnace should provide 15 to 20 years of reliable service.
Gas furnaces are the cheaper option to install, but they can cost more to run over the lifetime of the system than a heat pump.
If you choose a gas furnace, be certain to consider the efficiency rating, measured in AFUE. A furnace with an AFUE of 78 to 80 percent is considered high efficiency. This is often the best option to provide energy-efficient heating throughout your home, as well as lower energy bills.
Benefits of a Heat Pump
In Encino, we do have relatively mild winters. This means that a heat pump is a feasible solution to your heating needs, since this system is used both to heat and cool your home. In fact, heat pumps can be quite economical, helping save energy while keeping your family comfortable and safe during the winter.
A heat pump performs the same function as a furnace, but they use the heat from the ground and outdoor air to heat your home, rather than heat created through burning fuel. A heat pump will absorb heat form the outdoors, multiply it, then transfer it into the home. This requires no fuel. The pump runs on electricity, but is far more efficient than an electric furnace. In addition, a heat pump has a cooling effect in the summer, so it is a year-round system.
Because heat pumps do not use fuel and require minimal electric to run, using one results in lower energy bills than having a gas furnace and electric air conditioner. Over the lifetime of a heat pump, these savings can be significant.
That said, heat pumps do have drawbacks. First, they cost more than furnaces to purchase in the beginning, and they require special installation to ensure proper function. In areas where the temperature regularly falls below freezing, these systems are not an efficient heating option.
However, in our area, temperatures rarely dip below freezing, which means you can use a heat pump successfully here. If you’re interested in this more efficient option and don’t mind a higher investment upfront, then a heat pump may be the right choice for your home.
Working with the Right Installation Team
In addition to choosing the right system, you need to choose the right installation team for your needs. Aladdin AC has a comprehensive list of heating system installation and replacement services. Our team will help you decide which system you need, then install it professionally, ensuring it is fully functionally and running as efficiently as possible.
Call Aladdin Air Conditioning & Heating for Heating System Installation in Encino
If you are still not sure which heating system is the right choice for your home, call the experts at Aladdin AC or contact us online for assistance. Our team will help you choose the heating system that will provide you effective, efficient, and affordable heating for your home. Our HVAC experts will install the system to ensure it is fully functional, providing you years of reliable heating service.
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