Heat pump vs Furnace in Lake County, Illinois
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you're set on staying off gas entirely. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward what Lake County sees on a typical winter night. You'll also want to plan for higher electricity costs through the winter, since gas heat runs at least 35% cheaper here at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back it up. Winter nights average 19°F from December through February, cold enough that a standard heat pump has to work harder to keep up, while a furnace burns gas and doesn't lose capacity in the cold. With heat needed about 8 months a year and gas running at least 35% cheaper than a heat pump at Illinois prices, it's no surprise 83% of homes here already heat with gas.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you're set on staying off gas entirely. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward what Lake County sees on a typical winter night. You'll also want to plan for higher electricity costs through the winter, since gas heat runs at least 35% cheaper here at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back it up. Winter nights average 19°F from December through February, cold enough that a standard heat pump has to work harder to keep up, while a furnace burns gas and doesn't lose capacity in the cold. With heat needed about 8 months a year and gas running at least 35% cheaper than a heat pump at Illinois prices, it's no surprise 83% of homes here already heat with gas.
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 Lake County.
Winter nights here average 19°F, and gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump at Illinois prices, so gas wins.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will serve you better than paying to bring gas in just for a furnace.
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 19°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're set on staying off gas entirely. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward what Lake County sees on a typical winter night. You'll also want to plan for higher electricity costs through the winter, since gas heat runs at least 35% cheaper here at Illinois prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back it up. Winter nights average 19°F from December through February, cold enough that a standard heat pump has to work harder to keep up, while a furnace burns gas and doesn't lose capacity in the cold. With heat needed about 8 months a year and gas running at least 35% cheaper than a heat pump at Illinois prices, it's no surprise 83% of homes here already heat with gas.
A Lake County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.