Heat pump vs Furnace in Jefferson County, Colorado
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you plan to install a cold-climate model, built to keep its heating power at low temperatures. Standard heat pumps lose capacity as it gets colder, and Jefferson County winter nights average 18°F from December through February, so the model matters here. Even then, expect to pay more to run it than a furnace, since gas heating costs at least 35% less at Colorado prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes in Jefferson County, where heat is needed about 9 months of the year and winter nights average 18°F. It costs at least 35% less to run on natural gas than a heat pump at Colorado prices, which is why 72% of homes here already heat this way. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling has to come from a separate system.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you plan to install a cold-climate model, built to keep its heating power at low temperatures. Standard heat pumps lose capacity as it gets colder, and Jefferson County winter nights average 18°F from December through February, so the model matters here. Even then, expect to pay more to run it than a furnace, since gas heating costs at least 35% less at Colorado prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes in Jefferson County, where heat is needed about 9 months of the year and winter nights average 18°F. It costs at least 35% less to run on natural gas than a heat pump at Colorado prices, which is why 72% of homes here already heat this way. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling has to come from a separate system.
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 Jefferson County.
Winter nights here average 18°F, and gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump at Colorado prices.
If your home also needs cooling and you would rather run one system than two, a cold-climate heat pump still handles it.
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 18°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 plan to install a cold-climate model, built to keep its heating power at low temperatures. Standard heat pumps lose capacity as it gets colder, and Jefferson County winter nights average 18°F from December through February, so the model matters here. Even then, expect to pay more to run it than a furnace, since gas heating costs at least 35% less at Colorado prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes in Jefferson County, where heat is needed about 9 months of the year and winter nights average 18°F. It costs at least 35% less to run on natural gas than a heat pump at Colorado prices, which is why 72% of homes here already heat this way. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling has to come from a separate system.
A Jefferson County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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