When your heating system needs to be replaced, you face a decision that will affect your comfort and energy bills for the next 15–20 years: stick with a gas furnace, or upgrade to a heat pump?

Both are solid options for Snohomish County homes. The right choice depends on your home's setup, your energy costs, and how long you plan to stay in the house. Here is a straightforward cost comparison to help you decide.

Installation Cost: Furnace vs Heat Pump

Gas Furnace Installation

Replacing a gas furnace in Snohomish County typically costs:

• Standard efficiency (80% AFUE): $3,500–$5,500 installed
• High efficiency (96%+ AFUE): $5,000–$8,000 installed

These prices include the equipment, labor, and any minor ductwork modifications. If your existing ductwork needs significant work, add $1,000–$3,000.

Heat Pump Installation

Heat pump costs vary more depending on the type:

• Ductless mini-split (single zone): $3,500–$6,000 installed
• Ductless mini-split (multi-zone, 2–4 rooms): $7,000–$14,000 installed
• Ducted air-source heat pump: $8,000–$14,000 installed
• Cold-climate heat pump (for full heating replacement): $10,000–$16,000 installed

Heat pumps cost more upfront — but that gap narrows significantly once you factor in rebates.

After Rebates: The Real Cost

For a ducted heat pump replacing a gas furnace in Snohomish County, available rebates in 2026 include:

Incentive	Amount
Federal IRA tax credit (30%, up to $2,000)	$2,000
PSE rebate (cold-climate HP)	$1,500
Snohomish PUD rebate	$1,200
Total rebates	$4,700

On a $13,000 heat pump installation, your net cost after rebates is approximately $8,300 — comparable to a high-efficiency gas furnace with no rebates.

Monthly Operating Costs

This is where heat pumps often win over time.

Gas Furnace Operating Cost

A typical Snohomish County home uses 600–900 therms of natural gas per year for heating. At current rates of approximately $1.20–$1.50 per therm:

• Annual heating cost (gas furnace): $720–$1,350
• Monthly average (heating season): $120–$225

Heat Pump Operating Cost

Heat pumps use electricity, not gas. Their efficiency is measured by COP (coefficient of performance) — a good cold-climate heat pump delivers 2–3 units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed.

For a typical Snohomish County home:

• Annual heating cost (heat pump): $500–$900
• Monthly average (heating season): $85–$150

The savings depend heavily on your current electricity and gas rates. With Snohomish PUD's relatively low electricity rates, heat pumps tend to perform well here.

Cooling: Heat Pumps Do Double Duty

Here is an advantage gas furnaces cannot match: a heat pump also cools your home in summer. If you currently have a separate AC unit, replacing it with a heat pump eliminates that cost entirely.

A new central AC system costs $4,000–$8,000 installed. If you need to replace both your furnace and AC, a heat pump that does both is often the most cost-effective choice.

Lifespan and Maintenance

Gas furnace: 15–20 years with annual maintenance. Annual tune-up cost: $79–$150.

Heat pump: 12–18 years with annual maintenance. Annual tune-up cost: $99–$150. Heat pumps have more components (they run year-round for both heating and cooling), so maintenance is slightly more involved.

Both systems benefit from annual professional service. Our Comfort Club membership covers annual tune-ups for either system starting at $149/year, with priority scheduling and discounts on repairs.

Which Is Right for Your Home?

Choose a gas furnace if:

• Your home already has gas service and you want the lowest upfront cost
• You live in a particularly cold microclimate and want maximum heating output
• Your ductwork is in poor condition and not worth upgrading
• You are planning to sell within 3–5 years and want to minimize upfront investment

Choose a heat pump if:

• You want to eliminate your gas bill entirely
• You need both heating and cooling (the heat pump replaces both systems)
• You want to maximize rebates and long-term energy savings
• You are planning to stay in the home 7+ years
• You are interested in reducing your home's carbon footprint

Consider a dual-fuel system if:

• You want heat pump efficiency in mild weather with gas backup for the coldest days
• Your home is in a colder area of Snohomish County (higher elevations, north-facing)

Get a Free Estimate

The best way to know which system makes sense for your specific home is to have one of our technicians assess your current setup, ductwork, and energy usage.

We install both gas furnaces and heat pumps, and we will give you an honest recommendation based on your situation — not on which system has a higher margin for us.

Call 425-610-6635 or request a free estimate online. We serve all of Snohomish County including Lake Stevens, Everett, Marysville, Monroe, Snohomish, Mukilteo, Lynnwood, and Edmonds.