Furnace vs. Heat Pump: Which Is the Best Choice for Your Home?
One of the toughest decisions you face when it comes to indoor comfort is when a furnace is the better choice than a heat pump. With cold, snowy winters, you question whether a heat pump will be enough. Air Blue helps you understand the pros and cons of each system and why one is better than the other in different situations.
A Breakdown of Each System’s Technology and Functionality
Before you can even start to decide, you need to understand how both systems work.
1. How a Furnace Works
A furnace is a type of heating system that generates heat through a fuel source, such as propane, heating oil, or natural gas. That fuel source produces a flame to produce the heat that a heat exchanger captures.
Once the heat exchanger has heat, it’s distributed through ducts with the help of blower fans. The fans blow over the heat exchanger, which warms the air, and the air travels through the ducts to different rooms within the home.
A furnace has an efficiency rating known as the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). It’s a measure of how much heating fuel is lost in the system’s emissions. The higher the number, the more efficient it is. For example, a furnace with a rating of 97% uses 97% of the fuel to generate heat. The remaining 3% is lost in the system’s exhaust.
2. How a Heat Pump Works
Heat pumps are gaining popularity due to their efficiency. They also double as a cooling system in the summer, so you get year-round benefits from it.
In the summer months, a heat pump pulls heat and humidity from the rooms in your home and moves them outside. The opposite occurs in the winter. The system captures heat energy outside the home and brings it inside.
It may seem odd to imagine that there is any heat in the air on a cold winter’s day. There’s always heat energy. The heat energy warms the refrigerant in the system, warms that coolant, and releases that warmth inside.
As temperatures get very cold, a heat pump system loses efficiency. Technology is changing, but it’s often recommended to have a supplemental heat source on bitterly cold days. Most systems have a supplemental or auxiliary electric heating coil or a dual-fuel system that pairs the heat pump with a gas furnace.
Heat pumps’ efficiency ratings rely on three things:
- Coefficient of Performance (COP): Measures a system’s heating output to energy input. The higher the number, the better. A rating of 5 means that 5 units of heat are produced from 1 unit of energy.
- Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF): Measures the heating efficiency by dividing the total heating output by the total watt-hours over the entire heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. Today’s heat pumps need to meet updated HSPF2 standards.
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): Measures the cooling efficiency by dividing cooling output by consumed electricity over the entire cooling season. Air conditioning must meet newer SEER2 standards.
Advancements are being made in terms of how cold it can be outside to still have a heat pump working at its highest efficiency. Newer systems capable of operating at -20ºF have been revealed in 2025.
How Chicago’s Climate Impacts Your Home Heating Needs
Chicago’s climate may make it hard to rely solely on a heat pump, but a dual-fuel system is possible. Plus, continuing advancements in technology are leading to more efficiency at colder temperatures.
The coldest temperature on record in Chicago was 40 years ago. It reached -27ºF in January. The hottest temperature goes back to 1934 when it reached 105ºF.
It’s also worth looking at the heat index. A heat index isn’t the actual temperature on a thermometer. It’s how warm the air feels when you add factors like humidity. The highest heat index was 118 ºF, recorded in both 1995 and 2023.
Cold temperatures may also be impacted by factors like wind. When it’s windy and cold, the temperature you actually feel decreases. The coldest wind chill was -82°F, recorded in 1983. A wind chill makes your heat pump work harder, which decreases efficiency. If your home isn’t well-insulated, you also lose heat through poor insulation.
Having a heat pump system that keeps your home warm or cool, despite the outdoor temperatures, is helpful. However, today’s high-efficiency furnaces are also great at heating, and you could investigate a system that also cools air in the summer.
Work with an expert in Chicago home heating systems to make sure you have the right system for your home. There’s a lot you have to consider.
- Desire to lower your carbon footprint
- Existing system and existing home layout
- The area’s climate
- Use of a generator during power outages
- Your budget
- Your fuel source
- Your preference
Make the Most of Your Decision
No matter if you choose a furnace, a heat pump, or a dual-fuel system, make the most of your decision by taking care of it. You need to do the following regularly without forgetting or trying to save money by shortcutting important maintenance and repair measures.
1. Furnace Care:
The care required of your furnace does depend on whether it’s gas or oil. Natural gas is common in Chicago. Things you should do are:
- Always pay attention to changing noises or anything that is getting louder, as that can indicate something is wearing or no longer working properly.
- Check that the flame is lit, more blue than orange or yellow, and not weakening.
- Clear the outdoor unit of any clutter or debris.
- Make sure your thermostat is working properly.
- Replace or clean the air filters every three months or less.
- Test and change batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors.
You also want to hire a Chicago HVAC professional for the following reasons.
- Yearly tune-ups and inspections of your furnace.
- You see leaks coming from your system, or something is cracked or warped.
- Your home is not as warm as it used to be in some rooms or every room.
- You smell gas or heating oil.
2. Heat Pump Care:
A heat pump requires some of the same maintenance as a furnace, but there are a few differences.
- Clean indoor grates and return registers of dust, pet hair, and other particles.
- Clean or replace air filters every 60 days or less. (Monthly cleanings or replacements may be needed during peak usage.)
- Keep grass, weeds, snow, and ice away from the outdoor unit.
- Trim any shrubs or bushes so that they’re a minimum of 18 inches from the outdoor unit.
- Use a hose and approved cleaning agent to clean the outdoor coils before and after the heating season.
Some maintenance needs to be done by an HVAC technician specializing in heat pumps.
- Clean and adjust the blower components.
- Clean indoor and outdoor coils, the condensate pan, and the condensate drain line.
- Early comprehensive system inspections to look for leaks, check the electricals, and run tests of the defrost cycle and internal components.
- Six-month or yearly check-ups to ensure your heat pump is functioning properly.
Maintain Your System With Regular Cleanings and Inspections
Make sure you hire an HVAC professional to clean your Chicago heating and cooling system each year. Identifying small issues before they become costly ones is important. Not only does it lower the price you pay for the most common problems that appear as a system ages, but it also helps you avoid debilitating heating system damage.
Air Blue Heating and Cooling specializes in all HVAC equipment. Whether you’re interested in a free quote for heat pumps or want to replace your existing furnace, we’re here to help. Call us or click “I Need a Free Quote” to get started.
