Heat pump vs Furnace in Guilford County, North Carolina
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is the natural fit, and it costs about 5% less to run than gas here at North Carolina prices. Winter nights average 31°F, which a heat pump can handle, and a cold-climate model holds its heating power on the coldest nights instead of losing it. It also cools the house in summer, so it covers both jobs.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home heats with gas already, a furnace holds its full heating power no matter how cold it gets outside, even on the coldest nights of the 31°F winters here. A furnace only heats, so you would still need separate equipment to cool the house in summer.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is the natural fit, and it costs about 5% less to run than gas here at North Carolina prices. Winter nights average 31°F, which a heat pump can handle, and a cold-climate model holds its heating power on the coldest nights instead of losing it. It also cools the house in summer, so it covers both jobs.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home heats with gas already, a furnace holds its full heating power no matter how cold it gets outside, even on the coldest nights of the 31°F winters here. A furnace only heats, so you would still need separate equipment to cool the house in 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
Heat pump wins in Guilford County.
More than half the homes in Guilford County already heat with electricity, and a heat pump costs less to run here than gas does.
If your home already has a gas line and a furnace that works, and you are not set on cutting costs, there is no need to switch.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About 5% less to run | Costs more to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the South Atlantic states that heat with one | 30.1% | 48% |
| Handles a 31°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 fit, and it costs about 5% less to run than gas here at North Carolina prices. Winter nights average 31°F, which a heat pump can handle, and a cold-climate model holds its heating power on the coldest nights instead of losing it. It also cools the house in summer, so it covers both jobs.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home heats with gas already, a furnace holds its full heating power no matter how cold it gets outside, even on the coldest nights of the 31°F winters here. A furnace only heats, so you would still need separate equipment to cool the house in summer.
A Guilford County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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