Heat pump vs Furnace in Denver County, Colorado
When a heat pump makes sense
If you also want central air conditioning from the same equipment, a heat pump gives you both. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as the temperature drops, and Denver County nights average 19°F in December through February. You will pay more to heat with electricity than your neighbors pay for gas, so weigh that against having one system for both seasons.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has a gas line, a furnace is the safer bet for a Denver County winter. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Colorado's electricity and gas prices, and it holds its heat output even when nights drop to 19°F. This is what most homes here already use, and with 8 months of heating a year, that running cost adds up.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you also want central air conditioning from the same equipment, a heat pump gives you both. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as the temperature drops, and Denver County nights average 19°F in December through February. You will pay more to heat with electricity than your neighbors pay for gas, so weigh that against having one system for both seasons.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has a gas line, a furnace is the safer bet for a Denver County winter. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Colorado's electricity and gas prices, and it holds its heat output even when nights drop to 19°F. This is what most homes here already use, and with 8 months of heating a year, that running cost adds up.
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 Denver County.
Winter nights here average 19°F, and gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump, which is why most Denver homes heat with a furnace.
If your home has no gas line, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 19°F night and cool it come summer.
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 Mountain West that heat with one | 9.1% | 69.6% |
| 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
If you also want central air conditioning from the same equipment, a heat pump gives you both. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as the temperature drops, and Denver County nights average 19°F in December through February. You will pay more to heat with electricity than your neighbors pay for gas, so weigh that against having one system for both seasons.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has a gas line, a furnace is the safer bet for a Denver County winter. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Colorado's electricity and gas prices, and it holds its heat output even when nights drop to 19°F. This is what most homes here already use, and with 8 months of heating a year, that running cost adds up.
A Denver County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.