Heat pump vs Furnace in Strafford County, New Hampshire
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat or no gas line runs to it, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look, especially if you want cooling from the same system. Standard heat pumps lose heating power on cold nights, so make sure any unit you consider is rated for cold climates before you count on it through a Strafford County winter. Expect it to cost more to run than a furnace at New Hampshire's gas prices.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home has a gas line, a furnace is the steadier choice here. Winter nights average 16°F from December through February, and a furnace does not lose output in the cold the way a standard heat pump does. It also costs at least 25% less to run on natural gas than a heat pump at New Hampshire's prices, which matters over eight months of heating a year.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat or no gas line runs to it, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look, especially if you want cooling from the same system. Standard heat pumps lose heating power on cold nights, so make sure any unit you consider is rated for cold climates before you count on it through a Strafford County winter. Expect it to cost more to run than a furnace at New Hampshire's gas prices.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home has a gas line, a furnace is the steadier choice here. Winter nights average 16°F from December through February, and a furnace does not lose output in the cold the way a standard heat pump does. It also costs at least 25% less to run on natural gas than a heat pump at New Hampshire's prices, which matters over eight months of heating a year.
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 Strafford County.
Your winters average 16°F, cold enough to slow a heat pump down, and gas here runs at least 25% cheaper to heat with.
If your home has no gas line, a cold-climate heat pump will still get you through a New Hampshire winter, and cool the house come summer.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 25% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in New England that heat with one | 1.7% | 54.8% |
| Handles a 16°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 your home already has gas heat or no gas line runs to it, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look, especially if you want cooling from the same system. Standard heat pumps lose heating power on cold nights, so make sure any unit you consider is rated for cold climates before you count on it through a Strafford County winter. Expect it to cost more to run than a furnace at New Hampshire's gas prices.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home has a gas line, a furnace is the steadier choice here. Winter nights average 16°F from December through February, and a furnace does not lose output in the cold the way a standard heat pump does. It also costs at least 25% less to run on natural gas than a heat pump at New Hampshire's prices, which matters over eight months of heating a year.
A Strafford County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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