"Heating your home during the winter season becomes imminent but for that you should choose the right heating system. Mostly the dilemma is between the choice of heat pumps and furnaces. However, to take decision in favor of one over the other heating system it is necessary that you have a clear idea of the differences between the two.First of all the energy source for both the heating systems are different. Heat pumps run only on electricity while furnaces along with electricity use fossil fuels like natural gas and heating oil.The energy efficiency of heat pumps are measured looking at the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor or the HSPF rating and the energy efficiency of furnaces are measured by Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE. And when the energy efficiency between the two is compared it is seen that heat pumps are more efficient in terms of heat production but the problem of heat pumps is that they are not much suitable in places where the temperature falls below freezing.The lifespan of furnaces is more. It is around 15 years while in case of heat pumps it is more or less 10 years. Lastly, in terms of cost the upfront as well as the installation cost of heat pumps is lesser but if an energy efficient furnace is bought the energy savings could be more.But when it comes to choosing between the two heating systems an HVAC professional is the best person to decide."