Heat pump vs Furnace in Maricopa County, Arizona
When a heat pump makes sense
Winter nights here only average 41°F, so a heat pump has an easy job most of the season, and it costs about 20% less to run than a gas furnace at Arizona prices. It also cools your home in summer, so you get both from one system. If you want a heat pump but you are somewhere the temperature drops hard on the coldest nights, ask about a cold-climate model, since standard ones lose heating power in the cold.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has gas line in and a furnace is what is there now, keeping it is the simpler path. A furnace only heats, so you would still need separate cooling for the summer. With winters this mild and heat pumps running cheaper here, a furnace makes the most sense when gas is already in place rather than something to add new.
When a heat pump makes sense
Winter nights here only average 41°F, so a heat pump has an easy job most of the season, and it costs about 20% less to run than a gas furnace at Arizona prices. It also cools your home in summer, so you get both from one system. If you want a heat pump but you are somewhere the temperature drops hard on the coldest nights, ask about a cold-climate model, since standard ones lose heating power in the cold.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has gas line in and a furnace is what is there now, keeping it is the simpler path. A furnace only heats, so you would still need separate cooling for the summer. With winters this mild and heat pumps running cheaper here, a furnace makes the most sense when gas is already in place rather than something to add new.
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 Maricopa County.
Your winters barely dip below 41°F, so a heat pump keeps up fine and costs about 20% less to run than gas here.
If your home already has a gas line and you would rather not add electric heating to the mix, a furnace still gets the job done.
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 41°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
Winter nights here only average 41°F, so a heat pump has an easy job most of the season, and it costs about 20% less to run than a gas furnace at Arizona prices. It also cools your home in summer, so you get both from one system. If you want a heat pump but you are somewhere the temperature drops hard on the coldest nights, ask about a cold-climate model, since standard ones lose heating power in the cold.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has gas line in and a furnace is what is there now, keeping it is the simpler path. A furnace only heats, so you would still need separate cooling for the summer. With winters this mild and heat pumps running cheaper here, a furnace makes the most sense when gas is already in place rather than something to add new.
A Maricopa County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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