Heat pump vs Furnace in Johnson 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 electric. Get a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power on the 16°F nights this area sees from December through February. Even then, expect to pay more to heat your home than a gas furnace would cost you at Iowa prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back that up. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than a heat pump to heat with at Iowa prices, and that gap matters over eight months of heating a year. It won't cool your home, so you would still need a separate air conditioner, but if keeping winter heating costs down is the priority, this is the cheaper way to do it.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you already lean electric. Get a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power on the 16°F nights this area sees from December through February. Even then, expect to pay more to heat your home than a gas furnace would cost you at Iowa prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back that up. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than a heat pump to heat with at Iowa prices, and that gap matters over eight months of heating a year. It won't cool your home, so you would still need a separate air conditioner, but if keeping winter heating costs down is the priority, this is the cheaper way to do it.
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 Johnson County.
Winter nights here average 16°F, and gas heat runs at least 30% cheaper than a heat pump at Iowa prices, so the furnace wins.
If your home has no gas line to it, 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 cooling and heating from one system and you already lean electric. Get a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power on the 16°F nights this area sees from December through February. Even then, expect to pay more to heat your home than a gas furnace would cost you at Iowa prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and the numbers back that up. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than a heat pump to heat with at Iowa prices, and that gap matters over eight months of heating a year. It won't cool your home, so you would still need a separate air conditioner, but if keeping winter heating costs down is the priority, this is the cheaper way to do it.
A Johnson County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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