Heat pump vs Furnace in Grafton County, New Hampshire
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat and you want to add cooling, a cold-climate heat pump can work alongside it or carry the milder months. Only a cold-climate model belongs here, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward 10°F. Even a cold-climate model will cost more to run through the winter than a gas furnace at New Hampshire's prices.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is on natural gas, a furnace is the steadier choice with winter nights here averaging 10°F from December through February. It costs at least 25% less to run than a heat pump at New Hampshire prices, and its output does not drop as the temperature falls. The tradeoff is that it only heats, so cooling has to come from somewhere else.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat and you want to add cooling, a cold-climate heat pump can work alongside it or carry the milder months. Only a cold-climate model belongs here, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward 10°F. Even a cold-climate model will cost more to run through the winter than a gas furnace at New Hampshire's prices.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is on natural gas, a furnace is the steadier choice with winter nights here averaging 10°F from December through February. It costs at least 25% less to run than a heat pump at New Hampshire prices, and its output does not drop as the temperature falls. The tradeoff is that it only heats, so cooling has to come from somewhere else.
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 Grafton County.
Nights here average 10°F all winter, and gas heat runs at least 25% cheaper than a heat pump at New Hampshire's prices.
If your home has no gas line and you want cooling from the same system, a cold-climate heat pump is still worth a look.
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 10°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 and you want to add cooling, a cold-climate heat pump can work alongside it or carry the milder months. Only a cold-climate model belongs here, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward 10°F. Even a cold-climate model will cost more to run through the winter than a gas furnace at New Hampshire's prices.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is on natural gas, a furnace is the steadier choice with winter nights here averaging 10°F from December through February. It costs at least 25% less to run than a heat pump at New Hampshire prices, and its output does not drop as the temperature falls. The tradeoff is that it only heats, so cooling has to come from somewhere else.
A Grafton County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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