Heat pumps and furnaces provide home heating in different ways, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program. ENERGY STAR describes heat pumps as systems that move heat rather than convert it from fuel, while furnaces are part of “combustion heating systems” that burn fuel. ENERGY STAR also says many heat pumps provide cooling, so one system can do both jobs.
How a heat pump works
ENERGY STAR explains that an air‑source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air to warm indoor spaces in winter and removes heat from indoors to cool in summer. ENERGY STAR says this is why a heat pump can “deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.” ENERGY STAR describes ducted systems that use existing forced‑air ductwork and ductless “mini split” systems mounted on walls or ceilings with an outdoor unit.
How a furnace is described on these pages
On these ENERGY STAR pages, furnaces are referenced as examples of traditional combustion heating. ENERGY STAR states that heat pumps move heat “rather than converting it from fuel, as combustion heating systems do,” and elsewhere mentions “a more traditional gas or oil furnace.” The pages also note situations where a heat pump can eliminate or down‑size a furnace when replacing a central air conditioner, and where a furnace can be paired with a heat pump in a dual‑fuel setup.
Efficiency and energy use
ENERGY STAR says heat pumps are “more efficient than furnaces or boilers” and are a “smart investment year‑round” because they also provide cooling. ENERGY STAR attributes the efficiency difference to the way heat pumps move heat instead of burning fuel. ENERGY STAR also states that a typical household’s energy bill is around $1,900 annually, with almost half going to heating and cooling, and promotes ENERGY STAR certified heat pumps as independently certified to save energy.
Uses, installations, and options
ENERGY STAR describes several heat pump configurations. Ducted air‑source heat pumps can connect to conventional ductwork and, in most zones, can be installed as a drop‑in replacement when a central air conditioner or furnace needs replacement. Ductless mini splits do not need ductwork and can serve homes without ducts or areas where running ducts is difficult, according to ENERGY STAR.
ENERGY STAR also describes cold‑climate models that use advanced compressors and refrigerants to improve low‑temperature performance. ENERGY STAR says its certification tests low‑temperature performance down to 5°F and that many certified systems can provide heating capacity and efficiency in very cold weather. ENERGY STAR notes that pairing with a back‑up energy source can heat a home most efficiently when temperatures drop below that point.
Costs, incentives, and maintenance noted by the sources
ENERGY STAR states that air‑source heat pumps that earn the ENERGY STAR are eligible for a federal tax credit up to $2,000 for products purchased and installed between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2032. ENERGY STAR also refers to many utility rebates for installing certified air‑source heat pumps. ENERGY STAR emphasizes that certified products are independently verified to save energy, and that proper sizing, professional installation, and routine maintenance affect performance.
These pages do not provide furnace‑specific purchase costs, operating costs, or incentives. The pages discuss a dual‑fuel option that pairs a heat pump with “a more traditional gas or oil furnace,” describing it as allowing flexibility to use each system based on costs and environmental benefits, according to ENERGY STAR.
Limits and other considerations the sources describe
ENERGY STAR notes that getting the best performance from a heat pump depends on correct sizing and installation. ENERGY STAR says a system that is too large or too small will struggle to meet comfort needs and highlights the importance of verified sizing methods. ENERGY STAR also points to maintenance, such as keeping filters clean and equipment clear of debris, as important for performance.
On emissions and indoor air, ENERGY STAR highlights that air‑source heat pumps have “no combustion,” which means “no direct emissions such as NOx, carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide.” By contrast, the pages describe furnaces as combustion systems that convert fuel, without adding further technical details about furnace operation on these pages.