Heat pump vs Furnace in Bexar County, Texas
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already cool your home with electricity, a heat pump makes sense here. Winter nights average 43°F, mild enough that a heat pump keeps up without trouble, and you only need real heat about five months a year. It runs on electricity and handles both heating and cooling, and here it costs about 10% less to run than a gas furnace. Just make sure the model installed is rated for cold climates, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is already set up for natural gas, a furnace is still a solid choice. It runs on gas and only heats, so you would need a separate system for cooling, but it will produce strong heat on the coldest nights without losing capacity the way a standard heat pump can. This fits a home where gas line and gas appliances are already in place and switching energy sources is not worth it to you.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already cool your home with electricity, a heat pump makes sense here. Winter nights average 43°F, mild enough that a heat pump keeps up without trouble, and you only need real heat about five months a year. It runs on electricity and handles both heating and cooling, and here it costs about 10% less to run than a gas furnace. Just make sure the model installed is rated for cold climates, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is already set up for natural gas, a furnace is still a solid choice. It runs on gas and only heats, so you would need a separate system for cooling, but it will produce strong heat on the coldest nights without losing capacity the way a standard heat pump can. This fits a home where gas line and gas appliances are already in place and switching energy sources is not worth it to you.
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 Bexar County.
Winters here barely dip below 43°F, most homes already run on electricity, and a heat pump handles that cold without strain.
If your home already has a gas line and a furnace that's still running fine, replacing it before it fails is money you don't need to spend.
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 43°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 cool your home with electricity, a heat pump makes sense here. Winter nights average 43°F, mild enough that a heat pump keeps up without trouble, and you only need real heat about five months a year. It runs on electricity and handles both heating and cooling, and here it costs about 10% less to run than a gas furnace. Just make sure the model installed is rated for cold climates, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is already set up for natural gas, a furnace is still a solid choice. It runs on gas and only heats, so you would need a separate system for cooling, but it will produce strong heat on the coldest nights without losing capacity the way a standard heat pump can. This fits a home where gas line and gas appliances are already in place and switching energy sources is not worth it to you.
A Bexar County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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