Heat pump vs Furnace in Queens County, New York
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling as well as heating from one system, or if you don't have gas service to the house. Look for a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward 28°F, which is a normal winter night here. Even so, expect to pay more to heat with electricity than with gas at New York's current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the safer bet if your home is already on gas, which is true for 74% of homes in the county. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump here, and that adds up over a heating season that runs about seven months. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so you'll still need separate air conditioning for summer.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling as well as heating from one system, or if you don't have gas service to the house. Look for a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward 28°F, which is a normal winter night here. Even so, expect to pay more to heat with electricity than with gas at New York's current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the safer bet if your home is already on gas, which is true for 74% of homes in the county. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump here, and that adds up over a heating season that runs about seven months. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so you'll still need separate air conditioning for summer.
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
Furnace wins in Queens County.
Gas heat runs at least 35% cheaper here, and most of Queens County already heats with gas, so a furnace fits both your home and your budget.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat and cool it without one.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 35% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Mid-Atlantic that heat with one | 4.2% | 51.4% |
| Handles a 28°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
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling as well as heating from one system, or if you don't have gas service to the house. Look for a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward 28°F, which is a normal winter night here. Even so, expect to pay more to heat with electricity than with gas at New York's current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the safer bet if your home is already on gas, which is true for 74% of homes in the county. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump here, and that adds up over a heating season that runs about seven months. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so you'll still need separate air conditioning for summer.
A Queens County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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