Heat pump vs Furnace in Sangamon County, Illinois
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump fits a home where you want one system for both heating and cooling, and you're willing to move off gas. Choose a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward the 22°F this county sees on winter nights, and a cold-climate model is built to keep working through that. Expect higher winter heating costs than a gas furnace, since electricity runs at least 35% more here at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace suits most homes in this county, and 73% already heat this way. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump here, which matters over the roughly seven months a year this county needs heat, including nights that average 22°F. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats. You'll still need a separate system for summer cooling.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump fits a home where you want one system for both heating and cooling, and you're willing to move off gas. Choose a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward the 22°F this county sees on winter nights, and a cold-climate model is built to keep working through that. Expect higher winter heating costs than a gas furnace, since electricity runs at least 35% more here at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace suits most homes in this county, and 73% already heat this way. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump here, which matters over the roughly seven months a year this county needs heat, including nights that average 22°F. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats. You'll still need a separate system for summer cooling.
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 Sangamon County.
Gas costs at least 35% less than a heat pump to run here, and most of your neighbors already heat with it.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a Sangamon County winter and cool it come summer.
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 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
A heat pump fits a home where you want one system for both heating and cooling, and you're willing to move off gas. Choose a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward the 22°F this county sees on winter nights, and a cold-climate model is built to keep working through that. Expect higher winter heating costs than a gas furnace, since electricity runs at least 35% more here at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace suits most homes in this county, and 73% already heat this way. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump here, which matters over the roughly seven months a year this county needs heat, including nights that average 22°F. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats. You'll still need a separate system for summer cooling.
A Sangamon County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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