Replacing AC? Add a heat pump

Dear Jim: My heating and cooling system is 20 years old, and I think it is time to replace it. I am trying to decide which type of furnace (gas, propane, electric, oil) is best. What do you recommend? Russ H.

Dear Russ: If you are changing out the entire system, you will have the option of many fuel types for heating. There used to be a gas-powered central air conditioner, but now electricity is the only cooling option.

Operating cost and your familys comfort are the primary factors in selecting a new system. System efficiency and relative cost of the various fuels determine the operating cost. Fuel prices can fluctuate dramatically over the life of your system, as we have seen just recently with fuel oil and propane.

For heating, a natural gas condensing furnace generally is the most cost-effective choice. With the fairly recent glut of domestic natural gas from fracking, there should be an adequate supply at reasonable prices for the foreseeable future. Efficiencies are as high as 97 percent.

Many people install a heat pump (heats and cools) instead of a central air conditioner with a fossil fuel furnace. The installed cost of the system with a heat pump is not much more than with just a central air conditioner.

The advantage of a heat pump is that it heats efficiently during mild spring and fall weather. During these times, it runs instead of the furnace burners to heat the house. When it gets colder, the furnace takes over. A heat pump cools as efficiently as a central air conditioner during summer.

A geothermal heat pump heats and cools by using the stored heat from the ground. I installed one in my own home this spring. A variable-speed model provides the best comfort by continuously sensing and matching the heating and cooling output to the house needs.

The initial cost of a geothermal system is substantially more than other complete systems, but the utility bill savings should pay back its cost over its life. A 30 percent federal tax credit is available for geothermal heat pumps installed before 2017.

If natural gas is not available in your area, a propane or oil furnace provides equally comfortable heating. But propane is typically much more expensive to use and was in short supply last winter. Oil furnaces provide excellent heat and oil is readily available, but they require more regular maintenance and cleaning.

Also consider alternative fuels such as firewood, corn, pellets, etc., for supplemental heating. They are convenient to use and renewable. For example, dual-fuel wood furnaces automatically switch to gas when the wood burns out.

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Replacing AC? Add a heat pump