Heat pump vs Furnace in Franklin County, Missouri
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat with electricity, or you want one system that handles both heating and cooling, a heat pump makes sense here. It costs about 15% less to run than natural gas at Missouri prices, and that gap holds even with nights averaging 24°F through the winter. Just make sure the installer sizes you a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop that low.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace still fits if your home already has gas line in place, or you want a heating system separate from your cooling. It runs on natural gas and only heats, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for summer. With homes needing heat about 7 months a year here, the running cost difference against a heat pump adds up over that stretch.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already heat with electricity, or you want one system that handles both heating and cooling, a heat pump makes sense here. It costs about 15% less to run than natural gas at Missouri prices, and that gap holds even with nights averaging 24°F through the winter. Just make sure the installer sizes you a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop that low.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace still fits if your home already has gas line in place, or you want a heating system separate from your cooling. It runs on natural gas and only heats, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for summer. With homes needing heat about 7 months a year here, the running cost difference against a heat pump adds up over that stretch.
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 Franklin County.
Most homes in Franklin County already heat with electricity, and a heat pump costs about 15% less to run than gas here.
If your home already has a gas line and you are not ready to pay for a cold-climate model, a furnace will keep up better on the coldest nights.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About 15% less to run | Costs more to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Plains states that heat with one | 5.4% | 77.6% |
| Handles a 24°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
If you already heat with electricity, or you want one system that handles both heating and cooling, a heat pump makes sense here. It costs about 15% less to run than natural gas at Missouri prices, and that gap holds even with nights averaging 24°F through the winter. Just make sure the installer sizes you a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop that low.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace still fits if your home already has gas line in place, or you want a heating system separate from your cooling. It runs on natural gas and only heats, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for summer. With homes needing heat about 7 months a year here, the running cost difference against a heat pump adds up over that stretch.
A Franklin County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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