Heat pump vs Furnace in Thurston County, Washington
When a heat pump makes sense
If your house is already set up for electric heat, a heat pump is the natural upgrade, since it gives you cooling too and most homes here already run on electricity. Winter nights average 34°F, mild enough that a cold-climate heat pump holds its output without much strain. Just make sure any model you choose is rated for cold-climate performance, since standard models lose heating power once temperatures drop.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is worth keeping, since natural gas costs at least 5% less to run here than a heat pump. It only heats, not cools, so it suits a house where you already have another way to stay cool in summer, or don't need one. With heat needed about 10 months of the year, that running cost difference adds up.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your house is already set up for electric heat, a heat pump is the natural upgrade, since it gives you cooling too and most homes here already run on electricity. Winter nights average 34°F, mild enough that a cold-climate heat pump holds its output without much strain. Just make sure any model you choose is rated for cold-climate performance, since standard models lose heating power once temperatures drop.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is worth keeping, since natural gas costs at least 5% less to run here than a heat pump. It only heats, not cools, so it suits a house where you already have another way to stay cool in summer, or don't need one. With heat needed about 10 months of the year, that running cost difference adds up.
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 Thurston County.
Most homes here already run on electricity, and yours is likely from 1991 or later, so the wiring and setup favor a heat pump.
If your home already runs on natural gas and you have no need for cooling, a furnace will heat it for less.
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 34°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 house is already set up for electric heat, a heat pump is the natural upgrade, since it gives you cooling too and most homes here already run on electricity. Winter nights average 34°F, mild enough that a cold-climate heat pump holds its output without much strain. Just make sure any model you choose is rated for cold-climate performance, since standard models lose heating power once temperatures drop.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is worth keeping, since natural gas costs at least 5% less to run here than a heat pump. It only heats, not cools, so it suits a house where you already have another way to stay cool in summer, or don't need one. With heat needed about 10 months of the year, that running cost difference adds up.
A Thurston County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.