Heat pump vs Furnace in Baltimore city, Maryland
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has central air and you want one system that handles both jobs, a heat pump makes sense. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power on nights that average 28°F here. You will still be paying more to heat through the winter than a furnace would cost you, so weigh that against the convenience of one machine instead of two.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is on gas already, a furnace is the safer bet, and that covers most houses in the city. It costs at least 15% less to run than a heat pump at Maryland gas and electric prices, and it holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside. You will need a separate air conditioner for the months it does not heat, but for a house built decades ago on gas heat, this is the machine most homes here already have for good reason.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has central air and you want one system that handles both jobs, a heat pump makes sense. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power on nights that average 28°F here. You will still be paying more to heat through the winter than a furnace would cost you, so weigh that against the convenience of one machine instead of two.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is on gas already, a furnace is the safer bet, and that covers most houses in the city. It costs at least 15% less to run than a heat pump at Maryland gas and electric prices, and it holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside. You will need a separate air conditioner for the months it does not heat, but for a house built decades ago on gas heat, this is the machine most homes here already have for good reason.
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 Baltimore city.
Gas heat costs at least 15% less here, most houses already run on gas, and older Baltimore homes pair better with a furnace than a heat pump.
If your home has no 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 15% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the South Atlantic states that heat with one | 30.1% | 48% |
| Handles a 28°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 your home already has central air and you want one system that handles both jobs, a heat pump makes sense. Get a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power on nights that average 28°F here. You will still be paying more to heat through the winter than a furnace would cost you, so weigh that against the convenience of one machine instead of two.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is on gas already, a furnace is the safer bet, and that covers most houses in the city. It costs at least 15% less to run than a heat pump at Maryland gas and electric prices, and it holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside. You will need a separate air conditioner for the months it does not heat, but for a house built decades ago on gas heat, this is the machine most homes here already have for good reason.
A Baltimore city contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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