Heat Pump vs Gas Furnace: Which Costs Less Over 10 Years?
If my furnace died tomorrow, I wouldn't start by asking an HVAC contractor which system has the lower sticker price. I'd ask a different question: What is this system actually going to cost my family over the next 10 years? That's where the heat pump versus gas furnace decision gets a lot more interesting. A gas furnace can be less expensive to install in some homes. A heat pump can be extremely efficient, and it can handle both heating and cooling. But neither of those facts tells you which system will cost less at your house . Electricity rates vary dramatically across the country. Natural gas prices change. Climate matters. Equipment efficiency matters. Your insulation matters. And replacing a furnace while keeping a relatively new air conditioner is a completely different financial decision from replacing both systems at once. So instead of giving you a one-size-fits-all answer, I built a calculator that lets you run the numbers yourself. Heat Pump vs G...