Heat pump vs Furnace in Craighead County, Arkansas
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is worth a close look. It costs about 15% less to run here than natural gas at Arkansas prices, and it covers your cooling too, so you are not paying to install and maintain a separate air conditioner. Winter nights here average 32°F, mild enough that a heat pump keeps up, though a cold-climate model holds its heating power better on the coldest nights than a standard one.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is already set up for natural gas, a furnace is still a solid choice. It only handles heating, so you would need a separate air conditioner for summer, but a gas line already in place is worth factoring in. Homes here only need heat about 7 months of the year, which narrows the gap between what a furnace and a heat pump would cost you to run.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already heats with electricity, a heat pump is worth a close look. It costs about 15% less to run here than natural gas at Arkansas prices, and it covers your cooling too, so you are not paying to install and maintain a separate air conditioner. Winter nights here average 32°F, mild enough that a heat pump keeps up, though a cold-climate model holds its heating power better on the coldest nights than a standard one.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is already set up for natural gas, a furnace is still a solid choice. It only handles heating, so you would need a separate air conditioner for summer, but a gas line already in place is worth factoring in. Homes here only need heat about 7 months of the year, which narrows the gap between what a furnace and a heat pump would cost you to run.
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
Heat pump wins in Craighead County.
It costs about 15% less to run than a gas furnace here, and most homes in this county already heat with electricity.
If your home already has gas line service and you'd rather not add cooling equipment to the mix, a furnace still gets the job done.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | About 15% less to run | Costs more to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the south-central states that heat with one | 18.5% | 61.1% |
| Handles a 32°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 heats with electricity, a heat pump is worth a close look. It costs about 15% less to run here than natural gas at Arkansas prices, and it covers your cooling too, so you are not paying to install and maintain a separate air conditioner. Winter nights here average 32°F, mild enough that a heat pump keeps up, though a cold-climate model holds its heating power better on the coldest nights than a standard one.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home is already set up for natural gas, a furnace is still a solid choice. It only handles heating, so you would need a separate air conditioner for summer, but a gas line already in place is worth factoring in. Homes here only need heat about 7 months of the year, which narrows the gap between what a furnace and a heat pump would cost you to run.
A Craighead County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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