Heat pumps vs gas furnaces: Heat pumps win for most homes now

Heat pumps are 3–4x more efficient than gas because they move heat instead of creating it, so you get lower bills in most climates. Gas still heats faster and works better in extreme cold, but newer cold-climate heat pumps handle -15°F or lower. Gas also has combustion byproducts and price volatility, while heat pumps are simpler and emit nothing. Your climate and local energy prices decide it—South or Pacific Northwest is a no-brainer for heat pumps, but northern Minnesota might still lean gas if electricity is expensive.