FU 203 · Guide
Heat pump or AC + furnace?
Both setups cool your home the same way. The difference is how they heat it. Here is how each one works, what it means in a Valley home, and how to choose.
Fortress Cooling & Heating · Updated October 19, 2026
The two setups
Air conditioner + gas furnace
The air conditioner outside handles cooling. Inside, a gas furnace burns natural gas to make heat, and its blower moves air through your ducts all year. It's the classic split system, and it needs a gas line to the home.
Heat pump + air handler
A heat pump looks just like an air conditioner from the outside, and in summer it does the same job. In winter it runs in reverse: it pulls heat from the outdoor air and moves it inside. It runs on electricity only. Inside, an air handler moves the air, often with electric heat strips as backup.
Cooling: a tie
In cooling mode, a heat pump and an air conditioner work the same way and are rated the same way, in SEER2. A heat pump won't cool your home any better or worse than an air conditioner of the same size and rating. See SEER2 explained for how to compare them.
Heating: where they differ
| Heat pump | Gas furnace | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Electricity | Natural gas, plus electricity for the blower |
| How it heats | Moves heat in from outside | Burns gas to make heat |
| How the air feels | Steady, gentle warmth over longer cycles | Hotter air in shorter bursts |
| Efficiency rating | HSPF2 | AFUE |
| Needs a gas line | No | Yes |
| Combustion | None | Yes; keep carbon monoxide alarms in the home |
Valley winters are mild, and that suits heat pumps, because they do their best work when it isn't very cold outside. They do lose some heating capacity as temperatures drop, which is what backup heat strips are for on the occasional frosty morning.
A gas furnace makes sense if you already have gas, like the feel of hot air from the vents, or want heat that doesn't depend on the outdoor temperature at all.
Dual fuel: some of both
A dual-fuel system pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump handles cooling and most of the heating, and the furnace takes over when it's colder. The thermostat switches between them automatically.
If your system is on the roof
Many Valley homes have a packaged unit: one cabinet, often on the roof, that holds everything. Packaged units come in the same varieties: an air conditioner with electric heat, a heat pump, or a gas and electric unit that pairs cooling with a gas furnace section. The same trade-offs apply.
How to choose
- What's there now? Staying with the same type is usually the simplest install. Switching can mean electrical or gas work, which we'll price up front.
- Do you have natural gas? If not, a heat pump avoids adding a gas line.
- How do you like heat to feel? Steady and gentle, or hot and quick.
- What are your utility rates? Your electric plan with APS or SRP, and your gas rate if you have gas, decide what each kind of heat costs you to run.
Browse the options in heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, and packaged units. When you're ready, we'll recommend the setup that fits your home and price every option side by side.
Common questions
Can a heat pump keep up with a Phoenix summer?
Yes. In cooling mode a heat pump works exactly like an air conditioner and carries the same kind of SEER2 rating. What matters is that it is sized correctly for your home, the same as any AC.
Does a heat pump need backup heat?
Many heat pumps are paired with an air handler that has electric heat strips, which help on the coldest mornings and during defrost. In a dual-fuel setup, a gas furnace is the backup instead.
Can I switch from a gas furnace to a heat pump?
Usually, yes. The outdoor unit and indoor equipment change, and sometimes the electrical service needs work. We check that at the estimate and price it up front, so there are no surprises.