Heat pump vs Furnace in St. Clair County, Illinois
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you are set on staying off gas. Choose a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 26°F. Plan on paying more to heat through the winter than you would with gas at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Illinois prices, and 61% of homes in the county already heat with gas. It holds its output no matter how cold the night gets. 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 are set on staying off gas. Choose a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 26°F. Plan on paying more to heat through the winter than you would with gas at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Illinois prices, and 61% of homes in the county already heat with gas. It holds its output no matter how cold the night gets. 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 St. Clair County.
Gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump here, and most homes in the county are already set up to burn it.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump is still worth a look, since it can heat and cool without one.
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 Great Lakes states that heat with one | 3.4% | 78.8% |
| Handles a 26°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 are set on staying off gas. Choose a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 26°F. Plan on paying more to heat through the winter than you would with gas at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Illinois prices, and 61% of homes in the county already heat with gas. It holds its output no matter how cold the night gets. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling has to come from a separate system.
A St. Clair County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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