Heat pump vs. furnace: Which heating system is best for your home?

You’ll have several factors to consider when deciding on the right HVAC system for your home, including installation and unit costs, system efficiency ratings, and expected maintenance requirements. Your existing ductwork and your climate zone will also have a guiding influence on your choice.

Deciding between a heat pump and a furnace for your home? USA TODAY asked the experts, and here’s what you should know before you decide.

Installation cost figures are drawn from ARS cost data between January 2025 and January 2026. These ranges reflect varied customer circumstances, including home size, labor requirements, climate zone and more.

Note that heat pumps and furnaces have different scales for measuring efficiency. This is due to modern heat pumps’ exclusive operation on electric power and the continued use of gas and oil for furnaces.

The overall upfront cost for a new HVAC system takes several factors into account, including:

The best way to estimate your HVAC installation is to get real quotes and talk to the experts, which is why we reached out to Jerame Pankhurst, an Oncourse Home Solutions HVAC expert with more than 30 years of commercial and residential HVAC experience.

“Generally, a high-efficiency gas furnace (96% AFUE) can…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/