Heat pumps do not burn gas to heat your home
A heat pump uses electricity to move heat from one place to another — it does not burn natural gas or propane. Instead, it pulls warmth from the air, ground, or water outside your home and transfers it indoors using a refrigerant and a compressor. This is why heat pumps work differently from furnaces, which burn fuel to create heat.
The electricity a heat pump uses powers the compressor and fan, not a flame. If your home has a gas line, a heat pump will not use it for heating. Some homes have a backup electric resistance heater that kicks in during very cold weather, but that still uses electricity, not gas.
Key Takeaways
- Heat pumps run entirely on electricity and have no gas connection or burner.
- They work by moving existing heat from outside air or ground into your home, rather than creating heat by burning fuel.
- A backup electric heater may turn on in extreme cold, but it also uses electricity.
- If you have a gas furnace now and switch to a heat pump, you will no longer need gas for heating.
- Heat pump operating costs depend on your local electricity rates, not gas prices.
How a heat pump moves heat instead of making it
A heat pump contains a refrigerant that circulates between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit absorbs heat from the surrounding air or ground — even cold air contains some heat energy. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, which raises its temperature. That hot refrigerant then flows indoors, where it releases heat into your home through a coil and fan.
The refrigerant then cycles back outside, expands, and cools down to absorb more heat. This cycle repeats continuously. Because the heat pump is moving heat rather than generating it, it uses less electricity than a traditional electric resistance heater would to produce the same warmth.
This process works in reverse during summer: the heat pump pulls heat from inside your home and releases it outdoors, functioning as an air conditioner. Many homeowners use the same system for both heating and cooling.
Why you might confuse heat pumps with gas heating
Heat pumps and gas furnaces both keep your home warm, so it is straightforward to assume they work the same way. But a gas furnace has a burner that ignites natural gas or propane, creating flames that heat air. A heat pump has no burner and produces no flames.
Some homes have a hybrid system that includes both a heat pump and a gas furnace. In these setups, the heat pump runs most of the year, but the gas furnace takes over during the coldest days when the heat pump becomes less efficient. If you have this type of system, you will still use gas, but only as a backup.
If you have only a heat pump with no gas furnace, you will not use any gas for heating at all.
What happens to your gas line if you install a heat pump
Installing a heat pump does not require a gas connection. The system needs only an electrical outlet and refrigerant lines between the indoor and outdoor units. If your home currently has a gas furnace and you replace it with a heat pump, the gas line can remain in place but will not be used for heating.
Some homeowners choose to keep the gas line active for other appliances — a water heater, stove, or dryer — even after switching to a heat pump for heating. Others have the gas line capped or disconnected entirely. That choice depends on what other gas appliances you have and whether you want to keep the option of using gas in the future.
When a heat pump might need backup heating
In very cold climates, a heat pump's efficiency drops as outdoor temperatures fall. When the air is extremely cold, the system has to work harder to extract heat. Many heat pump installations include a backup electric resistance heater that turns on automatically when outdoor temperatures drop below a certain point — often around 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
This backup heater uses electricity, not gas. It is less efficient than the heat pump itself, so it costs more to run, but it ensures your home stays warm even in extreme cold. Some homeowners in cold regions choose to keep a gas furnace as a backup instead of relying on electric resistance heat, which is why hybrid systems exist.
If you live in a mild climate where temperatures rarely drop below freezing, you may never need the backup heater to set up.
Comparing heat pump costs to gas furnace costs
A heat pump's operating cost depends on your local electricity rates, while a gas furnace's cost depends on natural gas prices. Electricity and gas prices vary by region and change over time, so the cheaper option in your area may differ from another state or year.
Heat pumps are generally more efficient than electric resistance heating but may cost more or less to run than a gas furnace depending on local utility rates. In regions where electricity is cheap and gas is expensive, a heat pump usually costs less. In regions where gas is cheap, a gas furnace may be cheaper to operate.
Installation costs also differ: heat pumps typically cost more upfront than furnaces, but they provide both heating and cooling, whereas a furnace only heats. Many homeowners factor in the cooling benefit when comparing total cost.
What to check if you are unsure whether your system uses gas
Look at your outdoor unit. A heat pump has a fan and a metal box with refrigerant lines running to your home. A gas furnace has a vent pipe that exhausts combustion gases. If you see a vent pipe, you have a furnace. If you see only refrigerant lines and a fan, you have a heat pump.
Check your utility bills. If you receive a separate bill for natural gas or propane, you have a gas appliance somewhere. If your heating bill is part of your electricity bill only, you likely have an all-electric system like a heat pump.
You can also look at your thermostat or check your home's documentation. The equipment manual or your installation paperwork will clearly state whether the system is a heat pump or furnace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my existing gas line with a heat pump?
No. A heat pump does not connect to or use a gas line. If you have other gas appliances like a water heater or stove, you can keep the gas line for those. But the heat pump itself requires only electricity and refrigerant lines.
Will my electric bill go up if I switch from gas heat to a heat pump?
Your electric bill will likely increase because heating will now draw from electricity instead of gas. However, heat pumps are more efficient than electric resistance heating, so the total cost may be lower than your combined gas and electric bills were before, depending on local utility rates.
What if my heat pump breaks in winter — will I freeze?
If your heat pump has a backup electric heater, it will provide warmth while the heat pump is being repaired. If you have a hybrid system with a gas furnace, the furnace will set up. If you have only a heat pump with no backup, you should contact a technician right away, as you will have no heat until it is fixed.
Do heat pumps work in freezing weather?
Yes, heat pumps work in freezing weather, though they become less efficient as temperatures drop. They can extract heat even from very cold air. Most heat pumps are rated to operate down to around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, though some newer models work in even colder conditions.
Is a heat pump the same as a mini-split system?
A mini-split is a type of heat pump. It has an outdoor unit and one or more small indoor units mounted on walls, rather than ducts running through your home. Both use electricity and refrigerant, not gas. Mini-splits are popular in homes without existing ductwork.