If you are looking forward to buying an HVAC system, then the chances of you stumbling upon this question are very high – Heat Pump vs Electric AC, which one is better? Many people all around the world make the costly mistake of buying the wrong HVAC system for their homes.

In this article, I will explain the differences between a Heat pump and an electric AC. I will also give you a final verdict on which one should you go for.

Differences Between both HVAC unit: Heat Pump vs Electric AC

Although both heat pump and electric ac work based on the same principle, there are some major differences between them.

The key difference between a Heat pump and an Electric AC is, the Heat pump can both cool and heat your house, while an electric AC can only cool your home. So, during winter, you can use the Heat pump to warm up your house. You can’t do the same with an Electric AC though.

A heat pump has the ability to absorb heat from the outside with help of its outdoor unit. A reversing valve situated on the outdoor unit does this job. Heat absorbed by the outdoor unit is then sent back to the indoor unit, which then circulates the heat throughout the room and keeps it warm.

If you buy an electric AC, you must buy a gas furnace too, as electric ac cannot produce heat on its own. With the rising gas prices, maintaining a gas furnace can prove to be very difficult and expensive.

Conversely, heat pumps do not need gas to run. They can run on electric power alone. Also, a heat pump is a complete heating and cooling package, so it can save a lot of space in your house and be more economical.

Gas pumps tend to be less reliable because they need to constantly run 24/7 as you need cooling in summer and heating in winter. However, electric ac and gas furnaces don’t need to work constantly, so they can last significantly longer compared to the gas pump.

Pros And Cons of Heat Pump

In recent years, heat pumps are getting really popular in the HVAC market. Thanks to its versatility and energy efficiency, people are now buying more heat pumps than ever before.

Pros of Heat Pump –

• Ensures both heating and air conditioning.
• Operate on electric power.
• Eliminates the need to have a gas furnace, thus save a lot of money.
• Maintains a constant temperature throughout the home, eliminating the chance of cold spots.
• More energy efficient
• Relatively easy to maintain

Don’t be sold yet, heat pumps have their fair share of disadvantages as well. Disadvantages of heat pumps –

• Costs more than its alternative
• Doesn’t function well below 40 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures
• Does not last as long as an Electric AC or gas furnace
• Not economical to run if the electricity bill is higher than the gas bill

Now that we know the advantages and disadvantages of heat pumps, let us take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of electric AC.

Pros And Cons of Electric AC

People have been using electric AC to cool down their houses for decades now. The HVAC industry is almost synonymous with electric AC. But just like a heat pump, electric AC also has some advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Electric AC –

• Relatively cheap to install and run.
• Has the ability to rapidly cool houses.
• Is quieter than the alternatives.
• Has a relatively long lifespan.
• Comparatively cheap to maintain.

Disadvantages of electric AC –

• Cannot heat the house, so must be paired with a gas furnace or other heating solutions.
• Can be more expensive than heat pumps when paired with a gas furnace or heater.
• Non-inverter electric AC is more costly and less efficient to run.

So, Heat Pump vs Electric AC – Which One Should You Buy?

If you have a readily available and cheap gas supply, you should go for the electric AC and Gas Furnace combo. It would work in any weather conditions and last a lot longer.
But, if you don’t have a gas supply and want an all-in-one HVAC solution, go right ahead and buy the heat pump. But keep in mind, you may have to spend a decent amount of money on repairs every 3 to 4 years.

See the summary of this content here – Electric AC vs Heat Pump [Infographic]