Heat pump vs Furnace in Santa Fe County, New Mexico
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump gives you both. Look for a cold-climate model, since it will hold its heating power on the 20°F nights this county sees from December through February. Know that at New Mexico's gas and electric prices, it will cost more to run than a furnace over the roughly 8 months a year you need heat here.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the cheaper choice to run, costing at least 40% less than a heat pump through the winter here. It also has plenty of heating power for the 20°F nights this county gets from December through February. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling would need a separate system.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump gives you both. Look for a cold-climate model, since it will hold its heating power on the 20°F nights this county sees from December through February. Know that at New Mexico's gas and electric prices, it will cost more to run than a furnace over the roughly 8 months a year you need heat here.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the cheaper choice to run, costing at least 40% less than a heat pump through the winter here. It also has plenty of heating power for the 20°F nights this county gets from December through February. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling would need a separate system.
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 Santa Fe County.
Nights here average 20°F all winter, and gas heat costs at least 40% less than a heat pump at New Mexico prices.
If your home has no natural gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump is still worth a look, since it can also cool your home in summer.
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 you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump gives you both. Look for a cold-climate model, since it will hold its heating power on the 20°F nights this county sees from December through February. Know that at New Mexico's gas and electric prices, it will cost more to run than a furnace over the roughly 8 months a year you need heat here.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the cheaper choice to run, costing at least 40% less than a heat pump through the winter here. It also has plenty of heating power for the 20°F nights this county gets from December through February. The tradeoff is that a furnace only heats, so cooling would need a separate system.
A Santa Fe County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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