Heat pump vs Furnace in Polk County, Iowa
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning and heat from one system and you're set on staying electric. Look for a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power once temperatures drop toward 16°F, which is a normal winter night here. You'll want a backup heat source for the coldest stretches, since Polk County needs heat about 8 months of the year.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back it up. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than running a heat pump at Iowa prices, and a furnace holds its full heating power no matter how cold the night gets. It won't cool your home in summer, so you'd need a separate air conditioner for that.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning and heat from one system and you're set on staying electric. Look for a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power once temperatures drop toward 16°F, which is a normal winter night here. You'll want a backup heat source for the coldest stretches, since Polk County needs heat about 8 months of the year.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back it up. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than running a heat pump at Iowa prices, and a furnace holds its full heating power no matter how cold the night gets. It won't cool your home in summer, so you'd need a separate air conditioner for that.
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 Polk County.
Winter nights here average 16°F, and gas heat costs at least 30% less than a heat pump at Iowa prices, so the furnace wins.
If your home has no gas line to begin with, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 16°F night and cool it come summer.
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 air conditioning and heat from one system and you're set on staying electric. Look for a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power once temperatures drop toward 16°F, which is a normal winter night here. You'll want a backup heat source for the coldest stretches, since Polk County needs heat about 8 months of the year.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back it up. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than running a heat pump at Iowa prices, and a furnace holds its full heating power no matter how cold the night gets. It won't cool your home in summer, so you'd need a separate air conditioner for that.
A Polk County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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