If you're remodeling your house, you may need to upgrade the furnace too. You could choose a traditional forced-air furnace, or you might want to switch to a ductless heat pump. Both of these heating systems can keep you snug and warm in the winter, but in some cases, a ductless system might be the best choice. Here's a look at how the two heating systems differ.

A Ductless Heat Pump Has Better Temperature Control

If you and your spouse can't agree on when it's too hot or too cold in your house, then you might like the way a ductless heat pump lets you control the temperature in rooms or zones independently. You can keep part of the house cooler and other rooms warmer since each space has its own air blower and thermostat.

A central furnace warms your house according to the setting on a single thermostat. This causes the house to have a uniform temperature throughout, but if some rooms are not insulated very well, there could be colder rooms that are never comfortable in the winter.

A Ductless System May Be Better For Allergies

No matter what type of heating system you have, it's important to keep the components clean and have the unit serviced regularly so dust doesn't get circulated through your home. However, a heat pump doesn't need ducts so that eliminates a source of potential allergy irritants and dust. Eliminating the need for ducts could also lower the cost of your heating system and make it easier to fit the equipment in your home renovation plans.

Instead of the need for ducts and a large indoor air handler, the heat pump system consists of indoor air blowers that mount on the wall or ceiling and an outdoor unit that creates warm air. Rather than being joined together with ducts, the indoor and outdoor units are joined with cables and tubes that pass through a hole in the wall.

A Ductless Heat Pump Could Be More Efficient

Several factors affect how efficiently your heating system operates. However, a heat pump could be more efficient simply because the warm air doesn't have to blow through a duct system where some of the warmth could be lost. Plus, since you can control zones of your home independently, you can keep the temperatures cooler in rooms you're not using at the time.

When trying to decide if a heat pump or traditional furnace is best, you may want a contractor to inspect your existing ducts if you have them. If the ducts are in excellent shape and a good match for a new forced-air furnace, you may want to stay with a traditional furnace to keep costs lower.

However, if you'll need to get new ducts, then you may want a heat pump so you can avoid the need for ducts completely. An HVAC contractor can help you decide on the right heating system for your home based on the space in your home and how you want to distribute the heat. For more information about heating systems, contact a company like High Tech Heating & Air Conditioning Inc that works with them.