Heat pump vs Furnace in Lake County, Montana
When a heat pump makes sense
If gas is not run to your home, or you want cooling from the same system, a cold-climate heat pump is built to keep working through winter nights here that average 20°F. A standard heat pump loses heating power in that kind of cold, so the cold-climate version matters in this area. Expect higher running costs than a gas furnace at Montana's prices, since electricity is the more expensive fuel for heating here.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas is already run to your home, a furnace costs at least 40% less to run here than a heat pump, and homes in this area need heat about 10 months a year. A furnace only heats, so cooling would need a separate system. Where gas is available, that running cost is hard for a heat pump to match through winter nights averaging 20°F.
When a heat pump makes sense
If gas is not run to your home, or you want cooling from the same system, a cold-climate heat pump is built to keep working through winter nights here that average 20°F. A standard heat pump loses heating power in that kind of cold, so the cold-climate version matters in this area. Expect higher running costs than a gas furnace at Montana's prices, since electricity is the more expensive fuel for heating here.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas is already run to your home, a furnace costs at least 40% less to run here than a heat pump, and homes in this area need heat about 10 months a year. A furnace only heats, so cooling would need a separate system. Where gas is available, that running cost is hard for a heat pump to match through winter nights averaging 20°F.
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 Lake County.
With nights averaging 20°F all winter, a furnace keeps up better than a heat pump, and gas costs at least 40% less to run.
If you want cooling as well as heat from one system, a cold-climate heat pump is still worth a look, since a furnace only heats.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 40% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Mountain West that heat with one | 9.1% | 69.6% |
| Handles a 20°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 gas is not run to your home, or you want cooling from the same system, a cold-climate heat pump is built to keep working through winter nights here that average 20°F. A standard heat pump loses heating power in that kind of cold, so the cold-climate version matters in this area. Expect higher running costs than a gas furnace at Montana's prices, since electricity is the more expensive fuel for heating here.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas is already run to your home, a furnace costs at least 40% less to run here than a heat pump, and homes in this area need heat about 10 months a year. A furnace only heats, so cooling would need a separate system. Where gas is available, that running cost is hard for a heat pump to match through winter nights averaging 20°F.
A Lake County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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