Heat pump vs Furnace in Oxford County, Maine
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if gas doesn't reach your house and you want cooling along with heat. Choose a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power as temperatures drop, and Oxford County nights average 10°F from December through February. Weigh the running cost too, since electricity here costs more to heat with than gas over a heating season this long.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas reaches your house, a furnace is the better choice here. It costs at least 25% less to run than a heat pump at Maine prices, and homes in Oxford County need heat about nine months of the year, so that difference adds up. A furnace also holds its heat output steady no matter how cold the night gets outside.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if gas doesn't reach your house and you want cooling along with heat. Choose a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power as temperatures drop, and Oxford County nights average 10°F from December through February. Weigh the running cost too, since electricity here costs more to heat with than gas over a heating season this long.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas reaches your house, a furnace is the better choice here. It costs at least 25% less to run than a heat pump at Maine prices, and homes in Oxford County need heat about nine months of the year, so that difference adds up. A furnace also holds its heat output steady no matter how cold the night gets outside.
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 Oxford County.
Nights here average 10°F all winter, and gas heat runs at least 25% cheaper than a heat pump at Maine prices.
If your home has no gas line, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 10 degree night, and cool it come summer.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 25% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in New England that heat with one | 1.7% | 54.8% |
| Handles a 10°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
A heat pump makes sense if gas doesn't reach your house and you want cooling along with heat. Choose a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power as temperatures drop, and Oxford County nights average 10°F from December through February. Weigh the running cost too, since electricity here costs more to heat with than gas over a heating season this long.
When a furnace makes sense
If gas reaches your house, a furnace is the better choice here. It costs at least 25% less to run than a heat pump at Maine prices, and homes in Oxford County need heat about nine months of the year, so that difference adds up. A furnace also holds its heat output steady no matter how cold the night gets outside.
A Oxford County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.