Heat pump vs Furnace in Travis County, Texas
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat and cool with electricity, a heat pump keeps you on one system instead of two, and it costs about 10% less to run than gas here. Winter nights average 40°F, mild enough that a standard heat pump holds its output, though a cold-climate model is worth asking about if you want extra margin on the coldest nights. With only about 5 months of heating a year, you get the cooling side of the machine for most of your money's worth.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line and gas furnace in place, replacing it with the same is the simpler path, especially if the ductwork and venting are already sized for it. A furnace also gives you a wide margin of heat on the coldest nights, with nothing to check for cold-weather performance the way you would with a standard heat pump. It heats only, so you would still need separate cooling equipment.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat and cool with electricity, a heat pump keeps you on one system instead of two, and it costs about 10% less to run than gas here. Winter nights average 40°F, mild enough that a standard heat pump holds its output, though a cold-climate model is worth asking about if you want extra margin on the coldest nights. With only about 5 months of heating a year, you get the cooling side of the machine for most of your money's worth.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line and gas furnace in place, replacing it with the same is the simpler path, especially if the ductwork and venting are already sized for it. A furnace also gives you a wide margin of heat on the coldest nights, with nothing to check for cold-weather performance the way you would with a standard heat pump. It heats only, so you would still need separate cooling equipment.
Heat pump
- Runs on
- Electricity
- What it does
- Heats and cools
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Furnace
- Runs on
- Natural gas
- What it does
- Heats only
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Heat pump wins in Travis County.
Winter nights here only average 40°F, so a heat pump keeps up fine and costs less to run than gas, which is why most homes here already use electric heat.
If your home already has a gas line and you would rather not add electric load in the winter, a furnace is still worth asking about.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About 10% less to run | Costs more to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the south-central states that heat with one | 18.5% | 61.1% |
| Handles a 40°F night | Standard models lose heating power in the cold; cold-climate models are built for it | Yes |
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, NOAA
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat and cool with electricity, a heat pump keeps you on one system instead of two, and it costs about 10% less to run than gas here. Winter nights average 40°F, mild enough that a standard heat pump holds its output, though a cold-climate model is worth asking about if you want extra margin on the coldest nights. With only about 5 months of heating a year, you get the cooling side of the machine for most of your money's worth.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line and gas furnace in place, replacing it with the same is the simpler path, especially if the ductwork and venting are already sized for it. A furnace also gives you a wide margin of heat on the coldest nights, with nothing to check for cold-weather performance the way you would with a standard heat pump. It heats only, so you would still need separate cooling equipment.
A Travis County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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