Heat pump vs Furnace in San Francisco County, California
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning along with heat, since one unit does both. Winter nights here average 45°F, mild enough that a standard heat pump keeps its output without needing a cold-climate model built for harsher winters. At California's gas and electric prices, running it will still cost more than a furnace. So this choice is about wanting cooling, not about saving money on heat.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here. Gas heating costs at least 45% less than a heat pump at California prices, and 55% of homes in the county already heat this way. You give up air conditioning from the same unit, but with only about 7 months of the year needing heat, that trade works for a lot of houses. Older homes, like the county's median 1946 build, often already have the ductwork a furnace needs.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning along with heat, since one unit does both. Winter nights here average 45°F, mild enough that a standard heat pump keeps its output without needing a cold-climate model built for harsher winters. At California's gas and electric prices, running it will still cost more than a furnace. So this choice is about wanting cooling, not about saving money on heat.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here. Gas heating costs at least 45% less than a heat pump at California prices, and 55% of homes in the county already heat this way. You give up air conditioning from the same unit, but with only about 7 months of the year needing heat, that trade works for a lot of houses. Older homes, like the county's median 1946 build, often already have the ductwork a furnace needs.
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 San Francisco County.
Gas heat costs at least 45% less here, and most homes around you already have the gas line a furnace needs.
If your home also needs cooling in summer, a heat pump is still worth a look, since it can do both jobs.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 45% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Pacific states that heat with one | 4.8% | 56.9% |
| Handles a 45°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 along with heat, since one unit does both. Winter nights here average 45°F, mild enough that a standard heat pump keeps its output without needing a cold-climate model built for harsher winters. At California's gas and electric prices, running it will still cost more than a furnace. So this choice is about wanting cooling, not about saving money on heat.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here. Gas heating costs at least 45% less than a heat pump at California prices, and 55% of homes in the county already heat this way. You give up air conditioning from the same unit, but with only about 7 months of the year needing heat, that trade works for a lot of houses. Older homes, like the county's median 1946 build, often already have the ductwork a furnace needs.
A San Francisco County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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