Heat pump vs Furnace in Denton County, Texas
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump fits right in and costs about 10% less to run than gas at Texas prices. Winter nights here average 36°F, which a heat pump handles fine, especially a cold-climate model built to hold its heating power in that range. It also cools your home in summer, so you get both from one system.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home has a gas line and you want to keep using it, a furnace heats without losing power on the coldest nights. You will need a separate system for cooling, since a furnace only heats. It only has to carry the load about five months a year here, so the mild winters limit how much that gas use adds up.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump fits right in and costs about 10% less to run than gas at Texas prices. Winter nights here average 36°F, which a heat pump handles fine, especially a cold-climate model built to hold its heating power in that range. It also cools your home in summer, so you get both from one system.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home has a gas line and you want to keep using it, a furnace heats without losing power on the coldest nights. You will need a separate system for cooling, since a furnace only heats. It only has to carry the load about five months a year here, so the mild winters limit how much that gas use adds up.
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 Denton County.
Winters here rarely drop past the mid-30s, so a heat pump keeps up fine, runs on electricity like most homes already use, and costs less to run than gas.
If your home already has a gas line and you want heat that never has to work harder on the coldest nights, a furnace is still worth a look.
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 36°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 your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump fits right in and costs about 10% less to run than gas at Texas prices. Winter nights here average 36°F, which a heat pump handles fine, especially a cold-climate model built to hold its heating power in that range. It also cools your home in summer, so you get both from one system.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home has a gas line and you want to keep using it, a furnace heats without losing power on the coldest nights. You will need a separate system for cooling, since a furnace only heats. It only has to carry the load about five months a year here, so the mild winters limit how much that gas use adds up.
A Denton County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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