Heat pump vs Furnace in Fairfax County, Virginia
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas, a heat pump still makes sense when you want cooling and heating from one system, or when there's no gas line to work with. Look for a cold-climate model, since winter nights here average 28°F and standard models lose heating power at that temperature. Cost to run is about the same as a furnace at Virginia prices, so the deciding factor is usually the cold-weather performance, not the bill.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the straightforward choice if your home already has a gas line, which is true for most homes in Fairfax County. It keeps its full heating power no matter how cold the night gets, with nothing to size around for winter performance. You'll need separate air conditioning for summer, but for heat alone through the 7 months a year you need it, a furnace costs about the same to run as a heat pump here.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas, a heat pump still makes sense when you want cooling and heating from one system, or when there's no gas line to work with. Look for a cold-climate model, since winter nights here average 28°F and standard models lose heating power at that temperature. Cost to run is about the same as a furnace at Virginia prices, so the deciding factor is usually the cold-weather performance, not the bill.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the straightforward choice if your home already has a gas line, which is true for most homes in Fairfax County. It keeps its full heating power no matter how cold the night gets, with nothing to size around for winter performance. You'll need separate air conditioning for summer, but for heat alone through the 7 months a year you need it, a furnace costs about the same to run as a heat pump here.
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 Fairfax County.
More than half the homes in Fairfax County already heat with gas, and that's the kind of place a furnace makes sense.
If your home has no gas line, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through those 28°F nights and cool it come summer.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About the same | About the same |
| 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 gas, a heat pump still makes sense when you want cooling and heating from one system, or when there's no gas line to work with. Look for a cold-climate model, since winter nights here average 28°F and standard models lose heating power at that temperature. Cost to run is about the same as a furnace at Virginia prices, so the deciding factor is usually the cold-weather performance, not the bill.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the straightforward choice if your home already has a gas line, which is true for most homes in Fairfax County. It keeps its full heating power no matter how cold the night gets, with nothing to size around for winter performance. You'll need separate air conditioning for summer, but for heat alone through the 7 months a year you need it, a furnace costs about the same to run as a heat pump here.
A Fairfax County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.