Heat pump vs Furnace in Kent County, Michigan
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want one system that heats and cools your home. Look for a cold-climate model. Winter nights here average 19°F from December through February, and a standard heat pump loses heating power in that kind of cold. You should also plan on paying more to heat with electricity than your neighbors pay for gas.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes in Kent County. Gas heat costs at least 50% less here than a heat pump, and your furnace won't lose capacity on the coldest nights of the year. That's part of why 82% of homes here already heat with gas. You'll still need a separate air conditioner for summer, since a furnace only heats.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want one system that heats and cools your home. Look for a cold-climate model. Winter nights here average 19°F from December through February, and a standard heat pump loses heating power in that kind of cold. You should also plan on paying more to heat with electricity than your neighbors pay for gas.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes in Kent County. Gas heat costs at least 50% less here than a heat pump, and your furnace won't lose capacity on the coldest nights of the year. That's part of why 82% of homes here already heat with gas. You'll still need a separate air conditioner for summer, since a furnace only heats.
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 Kent County.
Winter nights here average 19°F, and gas costs at least 50% less than a heat pump to run in that cold.
If you want one system that heats and cools without a separate air conditioner, a cold-climate heat pump is still worth a look.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 50% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Great Lakes states that heat with one | 3.4% | 78.8% |
| Handles a 19°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 one system that heats and cools your home. Look for a cold-climate model. Winter nights here average 19°F from December through February, and a standard heat pump loses heating power in that kind of cold. You should also plan on paying more to heat with electricity than your neighbors pay for gas.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes in Kent County. Gas heat costs at least 50% less here than a heat pump, and your furnace won't lose capacity on the coldest nights of the year. That's part of why 82% of homes here already heat with gas. You'll still need a separate air conditioner for summer, since a furnace only heats.
A Kent County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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