Heat pump vs Furnace in Coconino County, Arizona
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already have central air, or you are choosing a system that has to cover both heating and cooling, a heat pump is worth a close look. It runs on electricity and costs about 20% less to heat with here than natural gas, and with nights averaging 23°F through the winter, you want a cold-climate model built to keep its heating power at that temperature, not a standard one that loses capacity in the cold.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has gas line and ductwork in place, a furnace is a sound choice, and it is what nearly half the homes in the county use. It heats only, so cooling has to come from a separate system, but it holds its output no matter how cold the night gets outside.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already have central air, or you are choosing a system that has to cover both heating and cooling, a heat pump is worth a close look. It runs on electricity and costs about 20% less to heat with here than natural gas, and with nights averaging 23°F through the winter, you want a cold-climate model built to keep its heating power at that temperature, not a standard one that loses capacity in the cold.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has gas line and ductwork in place, a furnace is a sound choice, and it is what nearly half the homes in the county use. It heats only, so cooling has to come from a separate system, but it holds its output no matter how cold the night gets outside.
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 Coconino County.
It costs about 20% less to run than gas here, and in a house this age that difference in efficiency is worth more every winter.
If you are set on a standard heat pump and skipping the cold-climate model, a furnace will hold its heat better on nights near 23°F.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About 20% less to run | Costs more to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Mountain West that heat with one | 9.1% | 69.6% |
| Handles a 23°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 have central air, or you are choosing a system that has to cover both heating and cooling, a heat pump is worth a close look. It runs on electricity and costs about 20% less to heat with here than natural gas, and with nights averaging 23°F through the winter, you want a cold-climate model built to keep its heating power at that temperature, not a standard one that loses capacity in the cold.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has gas line and ductwork in place, a furnace is a sound choice, and it is what nearly half the homes in the county use. It heats only, so cooling has to come from a separate system, but it holds its output no matter how cold the night gets outside.
A Coconino County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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