Heat pump vs Furnace in Wasatch County, Utah
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you'd rather not run a gas line. Choose a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 14°F from December through February. Running cost is about the same as a furnace at Utah prices, so the choice comes down to what you want the system to do in summer.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the steadier choice if your home already runs on gas, as most homes in the county do. It keeps its full heating output no matter how cold the night gets, which matters when nights average 14°F through the winter. Running cost is about the same either way, so there is no cost reason to switch off gas if you already have it.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you'd rather not run a gas line. Choose a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 14°F from December through February. Running cost is about the same as a furnace at Utah prices, so the choice comes down to what you want the system to do in summer.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the steadier choice if your home already runs on gas, as most homes in the county do. It keeps its full heating output no matter how cold the night gets, which matters when nights average 14°F through the winter. Running cost is about the same either way, so there is no cost reason to switch off gas if you already have it.
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 Wasatch County.
Nights here average 14°F all winter, and almost 8 in 10 homes already run on gas, so a furnace is the safer bet.
If you want cooling and heating from one system, a cold-climate heat pump can still handle your winters down to 14°F.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About the same | About the same |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Mountain West that heat with one | 9.1% | 69.6% |
| Handles a 14°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'd rather not run a gas line. Choose a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 14°F from December through February. Running cost is about the same as a furnace at Utah prices, so the choice comes down to what you want the system to do in summer.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the steadier choice if your home already runs on gas, as most homes in the county do. It keeps its full heating output no matter how cold the night gets, which matters when nights average 14°F through the winter. Running cost is about the same either way, so there is no cost reason to switch off gas if you already have it.
A Wasatch County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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