Heat pump vs Furnace in Snohomish County, Washington
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is the natural upgrade, since it also gives you cooling in summer. Winter nights here average 30°F, so look for a cold-climate model built to hold its heating power at those temperatures rather than a standard one. With heat needed about 10 months a year, the cooling side alone earns its keep even before you count the heating.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas already runs to your home, a furnace is worth keeping in the mix, since natural gas costs at least 5% less than a heat pump to run at Washington prices. It will not cool your home, so it suits a house where you already have or plan a separate way to handle summer. A furnace also holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is the natural upgrade, since it also gives you cooling in summer. Winter nights here average 30°F, so look for a cold-climate model built to hold its heating power at those temperatures rather than a standard one. With heat needed about 10 months a year, the cooling side alone earns its keep even before you count the heating.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas already runs to your home, a furnace is worth keeping in the mix, since natural gas costs at least 5% less than a heat pump to run at Washington prices. It will not cool your home, so it suits a house where you already have or plan a separate way to handle summer. A furnace also holds its full 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 Snohomish County.
More than half the homes here already run on electricity, and most were built around 1990 or later, which suits a heat pump just fine.
If your home already has a gas line and you don't need cooling, a furnace paired with lower gas rates can still cost less to run through the winter.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 5% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Pacific states that heat with one | 4.8% | 56.9% |
| Handles a 30°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 your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is the natural upgrade, since it also gives you cooling in summer. Winter nights here average 30°F, so look for a cold-climate model built to hold its heating power at those temperatures rather than a standard one. With heat needed about 10 months a year, the cooling side alone earns its keep even before you count the heating.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas already runs to your home, a furnace is worth keeping in the mix, since natural gas costs at least 5% less than a heat pump to run at Washington prices. It will not cool your home, so it suits a house where you already have or plan a separate way to handle summer. A furnace also holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside.
A Snohomish County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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