Heat pump vs Furnace in Orange County, Florida
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump fits your home if you want one system for both winter and summer. Winter nights here average 51°F, well within what a standard heat pump handles without losing power, and it costs about 40% less to run than natural gas at Florida prices. Heat is only needed about two months a year, so most of what the system does is cool your home.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace makes sense if your home already has a gas line in for something else, like a water heater or stove. It only heats, so you would still need a separate air conditioner to cool your home the rest of the year. At Florida gas prices, and with winter nights averaging 51°F, a furnace costs more to run than a heat pump would.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump fits your home if you want one system for both winter and summer. Winter nights here average 51°F, well within what a standard heat pump handles without losing power, and it costs about 40% less to run than natural gas at Florida prices. Heat is only needed about two months a year, so most of what the system does is cool your home.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace makes sense if your home already has a gas line in for something else, like a water heater or stove. It only heats, so you would still need a separate air conditioner to cool your home the rest of the year. At Florida gas prices, and with winter nights averaging 51°F, a furnace costs more to run than a heat pump would.
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 Orange County.
Winter nights here only average 51°F, so a heat pump keeps up easily and costs about 40% less to run than gas heat.
If your home already has a gas line and you want heat without relying on electricity, a furnace still makes sense.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About 40% less to run | Costs more to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the South Atlantic states that heat with one | 30.1% | 48% |
| Handles a 51°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 fits your home if you want one system for both winter and summer. Winter nights here average 51°F, well within what a standard heat pump handles without losing power, and it costs about 40% less to run than natural gas at Florida prices. Heat is only needed about two months a year, so most of what the system does is cool your home.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace makes sense if your home already has a gas line in for something else, like a water heater or stove. It only heats, so you would still need a separate air conditioner to cool your home the rest of the year. At Florida gas prices, and with winter nights averaging 51°F, a furnace costs more to run than a heat pump would.
A Orange County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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