Although a heat pump will heat your home on moderately cool days, it is best paired with a furnace to allow for maximum comfort when outdoor temperatures dip below 40°. If you are looking to both heat and cool your home it is an energy efficient solution, but if you’re only looking for heat, a traditional furnace is probably the way to go for most homeowners in the Pacific Northwest.
An electric furnace can be less expensive to install than a gas furnace, but gas is more energy efficient. This means that you can expect to pay less on a monthly basis to heat your home. If natural gas is not available for your home, an electric furnace is usually a simple installation and can last up to 30 years.
A ductless heat pump is a natural choice when there is not an existing duct system designed to provide heating and cooling. A ductless heat pump can be installed in almost any home often at a lower cost than installing a new duct system, furnace, and air conditioner.