Which Consumes More Energy: Air Conditioner Or Heater?

This is a pretty common question in the HVAC world because people are curious about the energy efficiency of heating and cooling. Of course, the snarky answer is it depends on where you live. You’re going to spend much more money to cool your home in Phoenix than you will in Fort Wayne, Decatur, Angola, Indianapolis, Greenwood, or Mishawaka, IN. But the folks in Phoenix want no part of the typical heating bill for say a home in Duluth, Minnesota.

Breaking It Down

Of course, the answer is never that simple. There is a difference in energy efficiency between heating and cooling. I’m not going to try and bore you with all the scientific explanations, but research shows you can cool a home more efficiently than you can heat a home. In fact, a typical air conditioner is about four times more efficient than a typical heater like a furnace or boiler.

It’s All About Choices

This does present a problem for those of us who live where the winters are cold. It would be great if we could set our thermostats to 62 degrees when it’s cold outside, but people tend to be more sensitive to being cold than being hot so that’s not really a choice. During the summer, on the other hand, folks may be more willing to set the A/C at 78 or even the lower 80s.

Allocating Your Hvac Budget

If you read these articles faithfully you know that Masters Heating & Cooling recommends buying the most energy efficient HVAC systems you can afford. They will cost more money upfront but will likely save money in the long run. If your budget requires a compromise, I suggest allocating more money towards the heating system to make sure you have the most efficient heater possible. If you must sacrifice on energy efficiency, do it with the air conditioner.

It’s A Matter Of Perspective

The important thing to remember is that any HVAC system Masters sells in 2021 will keep your Fort Wayne, Decatur, Angola, Indianapolis, Greenwood, or Mishawaka, IN home comfortable year-round AND it will be much more energy efficient than systems sold 20 or 30 years ago. Let Masters Heating & Cooling show you how using heaters and air conditioners has never been more affordable and environmentally conscious than it is right now. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more great HVAC information.