Heat pump vs. air conditioner: which is right for Texas?
They cool the same — the difference is heating. Here's how to choose.
By The T.A.P. Team · October 2024 · 6 min read
A heat pump and an air conditioner cool your home exactly the same way — the difference is that a heat pump can run in reverse to heat, too, replacing a separate furnace. In Texas' mild winters, a heat pump is an efficient, increasingly popular choice, because it heats cheaply on our many above-freezing days. Here's how the two compare and which fits your home.
- AC cools only; needs a separate furnace for heat
- Heat pump cools AND heats (one system)
- Heat pumps shine in mild climates like Texas
- Heat-pump heating is very efficient above freezing
- Below freezing, it leans on backup heat strips
How they're the same — and different
In summer, both use refrigerant to move heat out of your home; there's no cooling difference. The distinction is winter: an AC only cools, so it's paired with a gas or electric furnace, while a heat pump reverses to pull heat from outside air into the house — one system that does both jobs.
Why heat pumps fit Texas
Heat pumps are most efficient when winters are mild, and DFW's are — we spend far more of the year cooling than heating, and most winter days sit above freezing. On those days a heat pump heats for a fraction of what electric-resistance heat costs, which is why they're a strong fit here.
The cold-weather caveat
A heat pump loses efficiency as it gets colder, and on our occasional hard freezes it falls back on built-in electric "heat strips," which are expensive to run. It's a manageable trade-off in Texas because those days are few — but it's why some homeowners keep gas heat. Prepare either system for a freeze with our Texas freeze guide.
Which should you choose?
If you're replacing both the AC and an aging furnace, a heat pump can do both efficiently and simplify the system. If you have reliable gas heat you're happy with, an AC-plus-furnace still makes sense. Compare heating fuels in gas vs electric furnace, and let a load calc and your energy prices decide.
| Air conditioner | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | Yes | Yes (identical) |
| Heating | No — needs a furnace | Yes — reverses to heat |
| Best climate | Any (with furnace) | Mild winters (like Texas) |
| Winter cost | Depends on furnace | Low above freezing |
| Hard freeze | Furnace handles it | Uses backup heat strips |
There's no universally "better" choice — the right answer depends on your winters and your energy prices. In mild North Texas, a heat pump often wins on efficiency and simplicity; where gas is cheap and reliable, an AC-plus-furnace can still make sense. A good contractor runs the numbers for your home instead of pushing one system.
Heat pumps in North Texas
DFW's long cooling season and mild winters are close to ideal for a heat pump, and we're installing more of them every year across McKinney, Plano, and Frisco. Whether a heat pump or a classic AC-and-furnace fits, our HVAC team will size and price both.
The short version
- A heat pump cools exactly like an AC — the difference is it also heats.
- An AC cools only and needs a separate furnace for winter.
- Heat pumps are efficient in mild climates, which makes them a strong Texas fit.
- Above freezing, heat-pump heating is very cheap to run.
- On hard freezes, a heat pump leans on pricier backup heat strips.
- Choose based on your winters and energy prices — a load calc settles it.
Heat pump vs AC — frequently asked questions
Heat pump or AC + furnace?
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