Heat pump vs Furnace in Deschutes County, Oregon
When a heat pump makes sense
If your house needs cooling in summer along with heat the other ten months, a heat pump covers both from one system. Look for a cold-climate model rather than a standard one, since winter nights here average 22°F and standard heat pumps lose heating power at that temperature. Cold-climate models are built to keep working down into that range.
When a furnace makes sense
If you already have gas line into the house and don't need cooling from the same system, a furnace is the cheaper machine to run here, since gas heat costs at least 5% less than a heat pump at Oregon prices. A furnace also doesn't lose output as the temperature drops, which matters when nights sit near 22°F for months at a time. It won't cool the house in summer, so you'd need something else for that.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your house needs cooling in summer along with heat the other ten months, a heat pump covers both from one system. Look for a cold-climate model rather than a standard one, since winter nights here average 22°F and standard heat pumps lose heating power at that temperature. Cold-climate models are built to keep working down into that range.
When a furnace makes sense
If you already have gas line into the house and don't need cooling from the same system, a furnace is the cheaper machine to run here, since gas heat costs at least 5% less than a heat pump at Oregon prices. A furnace also doesn't lose output as the temperature drops, which matters when nights sit near 22°F for months at a time. It won't cool the house in summer, so you'd need something else for that.
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
Heat pump wins in Deschutes County.
Your home was likely built around 1998 or later, new enough that a cold-climate heat pump can handle the job here.
If your home already has gas line service and you want the lower monthly cost of gas heat, a furnace is still worth choosing.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 5% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Pacific states that heat with one | 4.8% | 56.9% |
| Handles a 22°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 house needs cooling in summer along with heat the other ten months, a heat pump covers both from one system. Look for a cold-climate model rather than a standard one, since winter nights here average 22°F and standard heat pumps lose heating power at that temperature. Cold-climate models are built to keep working down into that range.
When a furnace makes sense
If you already have gas line into the house and don't need cooling from the same system, a furnace is the cheaper machine to run here, since gas heat costs at least 5% less than a heat pump at Oregon prices. A furnace also doesn't lose output as the temperature drops, which matters when nights sit near 22°F for months at a time. It won't cool the house in summer, so you'd need something else for that.
A Deschutes County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.