Heat pump vs Furnace in Pottawattamie County, Iowa
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you already lean toward electric. Look for a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward what Pottawattamie County sees on a typical winter night, and nights here average 16°F from December through February. Plan on higher running costs than gas at Iowa's prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes in Pottawattamie County. It keeps its full output at 16°F, so it does not lose ground on the coldest nights of the year. Homes here need heat about 8 months a year, and natural gas costs at least 30% less to heat with than a heat pump at Iowa prices. That is likely why 71% 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 already lean toward electric. Look for a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward what Pottawattamie County sees on a typical winter night, and nights here average 16°F from December through February. Plan on higher running costs than gas at Iowa's prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes in Pottawattamie County. It keeps its full output at 16°F, so it does not lose ground on the coldest nights of the year. Homes here need heat about 8 months a year, and natural gas costs at least 30% less to heat with than a heat pump at Iowa prices. That is likely why 71% 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 Pottawattamie County.
Nights here average 16°F all winter, and gas heat costs at least 30% less than a heat pump at Iowa prices.
If your home has no gas line to work with, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 16°F night.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 30% less 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 16°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 already lean toward electric. Look for a cold-climate model. Standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward what Pottawattamie County sees on a typical winter night, and nights here average 16°F from December through February. Plan on higher running costs than gas at Iowa's prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes in Pottawattamie County. It keeps its full output at 16°F, so it does not lose ground on the coldest nights of the year. Homes here need heat about 8 months a year, and natural gas costs at least 30% less to heat with than a heat pump at Iowa prices. That is likely why 71% of homes here already heat with gas.
A Pottawattamie County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.