Heat pump vs Furnace in Burlington County, New Jersey
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning and heat from one system, and you're willing to pay more to run it through a Burlington County winter than a gas furnace would cost. Nights here average 27°F from December through February, so you'd want a cold-climate model, since standard ones lose heating power in that kind of cold. It suits a home without a gas line, or a homeowner who values one system over the lowest possible heating cost.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call if keeping heating costs down matters most, since natural gas runs at least 35% cheaper here than a heat pump at New Jersey electric rates. With 7 months of heating season and winter nights averaging 27°F, that gap adds up. It fits a home that already has a gas line and just needs a separate air conditioner for summer, which is why 70% of homes here heat this way.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning and heat from one system, and you're willing to pay more to run it through a Burlington County winter than a gas furnace would cost. Nights here average 27°F from December through February, so you'd want a cold-climate model, since standard ones lose heating power in that kind of cold. It suits a home without a gas line, or a homeowner who values one system over the lowest possible heating cost.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call if keeping heating costs down matters most, since natural gas runs at least 35% cheaper here than a heat pump at New Jersey electric rates. With 7 months of heating season and winter nights averaging 27°F, that gap adds up. It fits a home that already has a gas line and just needs a separate air conditioner for summer, which is why 70% of homes here heat this way.
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 Burlington County.
Gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump here, and most of your neighbors already heat with gas.
If your home has no access to gas line and you also want cooling from the same system, a cold-climate heat pump is still worth a look.
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 Mid-Atlantic that heat with one | 4.2% | 51.4% |
| Handles a 27°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 air conditioning and heat from one system, and you're willing to pay more to run it through a Burlington County winter than a gas furnace would cost. Nights here average 27°F from December through February, so you'd want a cold-climate model, since standard ones lose heating power in that kind of cold. It suits a home without a gas line, or a homeowner who values one system over the lowest possible heating cost.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call if keeping heating costs down matters most, since natural gas runs at least 35% cheaper here than a heat pump at New Jersey electric rates. With 7 months of heating season and winter nights averaging 27°F, that gap adds up. It fits a home that already has a gas line and just needs a separate air conditioner for summer, which is why 70% of homes here heat this way.
A Burlington County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.