When considering home HVAC heating and cooling options, homeowners will find two popular choices - a heat pump system and a furnace heater - each with advantages and installation considerations. There are several factors that impact selecting a heat pump versus a furnace, including the higher up-front cost of a heat pump, higher energy costs to operate a furnace over time, lower maintenance costs for heat pumps, and heat pumps tend to have a longer lifespan than furnaces. Learn about heat pumps and furnaces and considerations that could impact which type of HVAC system you install.