Which of these systems works best? If you own your own house and have individually controlled heating and air conditioning, then you will be very interested to know which of these technologies is better--in terms of heat efficiency and in terms of cost.
First understand how these systems are powered. The air source electric heat pumps system extracts heat from the air. It is electrically based, though it is relatively inexpensive to maintain price-wise compared to gas pumps. It is also easy to use, even for the average consumer. It is cleaner than a gas powered system and not as dangerous to run, since there is no flammable or asphyxiating fuel involved. These two factors have no doubt influenced the majority to choose air source electric pumps. However, there is a major disadvantage here. They are considered unhealthy for the environment, and systems are traditionally noisy (although some systems are said to be quiet performing). Most importantly, these systems lose their heating efficiency in extremely cold temperatures, as the COP (Coefficient of Performance) is greatly reduced.
Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps are air source electric heat pumps, except that they include a back up fuel system. The advantage here is that this system can help a great deal in the cold winter season. It is more economic than running electrical heat alone, and more efficient when it comes to heating the entire house. Since experts recommend having a backup system on file a dual system (that automatically switches back and forth according to temperature) would be an even better compromise. However, with the advantages of air source electric pumps and dual-fuel heat pumps also come the disadvantages of both.
That leaves geothermal heat pumps, the only system that doesn't use the power of gas, fuel, propane or electricity. This type of system extracts heat from the earth, namely the shallow ground, which is always warmer than a winter's day and cooler than a summer's day. This type of system can save on long-term costs related to electricity. More importantly, it can heat the house more effectively because it is using the stability of the earth's temperatures. This is the favorite type of technology among green enthusiasts especially when it is combined with solar power.
There is a disadvantage to geothermal heat pumps and that is in the complexity of the design and in the huge startup costs, especially when compared to air source electric heat pumps. The final word is that it all comes to down to cost and your budget! Manufacturers to look for when shopping for these products include Addison, Daikin, Ruud and Tempstar.
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