Heat pump vs Furnace in Richmond County, New York
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system, and you're prepared to pay more for gas savings you won't get. Look for a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as the temperature drops, and your winter nights here average 28°F. If you don't already have gas line to the house, that's another point in its favor.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, since gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump at New York prices, and 85% of homes in the county already heat with gas. You'll need a separate air conditioner for summer, but with only about 7 months of heating a year, that split works out cheaper for most houses. If you already have gas service run to the house, a furnace makes even more sense.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system, and you're prepared to pay more for gas savings you won't get. Look for a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as the temperature drops, and your winter nights here average 28°F. If you don't already have gas line to the house, that's another point in its favor.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, since gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump at New York prices, and 85% of homes in the county already heat with gas. You'll need a separate air conditioner for summer, but with only about 7 months of heating a year, that split works out cheaper for most houses. If you already have gas service run to the house, a furnace makes even more sense.
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 Richmond County.
Gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump here, and most of your neighbors already heat with gas.
If your home has no gas line to tap into, a cold-climate heat pump will 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 and heating from one system, and you're prepared to pay more for gas savings you won't get. Look for a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as the temperature drops, and your winter nights here average 28°F. If you don't already have gas line to the house, that's another point in its favor.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, since gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump at New York prices, and 85% of homes in the county already heat with gas. You'll need a separate air conditioner for summer, but with only about 7 months of heating a year, that split works out cheaper for most houses. If you already have gas service run to the house, a furnace makes even more sense.
A Richmond County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.