Heat pump vs Furnace in Tarrant County, Texas
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat with electricity, or you want one system for both summer and winter, a heat pump fits your home well here. Winter nights average 37°F and the cold season only runs about five months, so a heat pump is not straining against deep cold for long. It also runs about 10% cheaper than gas at Texas prices. Ask that it be sized as a cold-climate model so it keeps its full heating power on the coldest nights.
When a furnace makes sense
If you already heat with gas and want to keep that setup, a furnace still makes sense for your home. It runs on natural gas and only heats, so you would pair it with a separate air conditioner for summer. About 31% of homes here heat with gas, so you would be in familiar company.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat with electricity, or you want one system for both summer and winter, a heat pump fits your home well here. Winter nights average 37°F and the cold season only runs about five months, so a heat pump is not straining against deep cold for long. It also runs about 10% cheaper than gas at Texas prices. Ask that it be sized as a cold-climate model so it keeps its full heating power on the coldest nights.
When a furnace makes sense
If you already heat with gas and want to keep that setup, a furnace still makes sense for your home. It runs on natural gas and only heats, so you would pair it with a separate air conditioner for summer. About 31% of homes here heat with gas, so you would be in familiar company.
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 Tarrant County.
Winters here rarely drop past 37°F, so a heat pump keeps up fine, costs less to run than gas, and cools your home come summer.
If your home already has a gas line and you would rather not add a large electric load in winter, a furnace is still the simpler choice.
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 37°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 with electricity, or you want one system for both summer and winter, a heat pump fits your home well here. Winter nights average 37°F and the cold season only runs about five months, so a heat pump is not straining against deep cold for long. It also runs about 10% cheaper than gas at Texas prices. Ask that it be sized as a cold-climate model so it keeps its full heating power on the coldest nights.
When a furnace makes sense
If you already heat with gas and want to keep that setup, a furnace still makes sense for your home. It runs on natural gas and only heats, so you would pair it with a separate air conditioner for summer. About 31% of homes here heat with gas, so you would be in familiar company.
A Tarrant County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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