When an old furnace gives out, more and more Santa Barbara homeowners ask whether to replace it with another furnace or switch to a heat pump. In our climate it's a real choice, and the answer depends on the house.
What a heat pump does differently
A furnace makes heat by burning gas. A heat pump moves heat: in winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air and brings it inside, and in summer it runs the other way and cools the house. One system does both jobs, and it runs on electricity.
Why our climate suits heat pumps
Heat pumps work hardest when it's very cold outside. Santa Barbara's South Coast rarely gets there, so a heat pump spends most of the winter in conditions where it runs comfortably. In the Santa Ynez Valley nights get colder; modern heat pumps are built for that, and sizing the system for the coldest nights you actually get matters more there.
When a heat pump usually makes sense
- You want cooling too. A heat pump adds air conditioning without a separate system.
- Your air conditioner is also old. Replacing both at once with one heat pump is often simpler than replacing two pieces of equipment.
- You're moving away from gas, or adding solar.
When a furnace may still be the better fit
- The air conditioner is newer and you only need to replace the furnace.
- The electrical panel has no room for a heat pump without an upgrade.
- You'd like a furnace and a heat pump together: a dual-fuel system uses the heat pump most of the time and the furnace on the coldest nights.
Questions that decide it
- How old are the furnace and the air conditioner, and do you want cooling?
- Are the ducts in good shape?
- Does your electrical panel have capacity?
- Are there rebates on the system you're considering? See our post on rebates and incentives.
We install heat pumps and gas furnaces, and the quote on new equipment is free. Tell us about your home or call 805-965-6326, and we'll recommend what fits.