Heat pump vs Furnace in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump still makes sense here, especially a cold-climate model built to keep its heating power when the temperature drops toward 22°F. You will pay more to heat with it than with gas, since electricity runs at least 30% higher here at Pennsylvania prices. That trade-off is worth it if having one system for both seasons matters more to you than the lowest possible heating bill.
When a furnace makes sense
If lowering your winter heating bill is the priority, a furnace is the better fit for Lehigh County. Natural gas costs at least 30% less to heat with here than electricity does, and that gap matters through eight months of heating a year, with nights averaging 22°F in the coldest stretch. A furnace only heats, so you would still need a separate system for summer cooling.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump still makes sense here, especially a cold-climate model built to keep its heating power when the temperature drops toward 22°F. You will pay more to heat with it than with gas, since electricity runs at least 30% higher here at Pennsylvania prices. That trade-off is worth it if having one system for both seasons matters more to you than the lowest possible heating bill.
When a furnace makes sense
If lowering your winter heating bill is the priority, a furnace is the better fit for Lehigh County. Natural gas costs at least 30% less to heat with here than electricity does, and that gap matters through eight months of heating a year, with nights averaging 22°F in the coldest stretch. A furnace only heats, so you would still need a separate system for summer cooling.
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 Lehigh County.
Gas costs at least 30% less than a heat pump to run at Pennsylvania prices, and with 8 months of heating a year here, that adds up fast.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through those 22°F nights without that hookup.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 30% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Mid-Atlantic that heat with one | 4.2% | 51.4% |
| Handles a 22°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 you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump still makes sense here, especially a cold-climate model built to keep its heating power when the temperature drops toward 22°F. You will pay more to heat with it than with gas, since electricity runs at least 30% higher here at Pennsylvania prices. That trade-off is worth it if having one system for both seasons matters more to you than the lowest possible heating bill.
When a furnace makes sense
If lowering your winter heating bill is the priority, a furnace is the better fit for Lehigh County. Natural gas costs at least 30% less to heat with here than electricity does, and that gap matters through eight months of heating a year, with nights averaging 22°F in the coldest stretch. A furnace only heats, so you would still need a separate system for summer cooling.
A Lehigh County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.