For most Tucson-basin homes, a high-efficiency gas furnace is a hard sell on savings alone, because the furnace runs for so few days. Efficiency pays back through use, and Tucson heating use is low. A heat pump deserves a look first, since it also does your cooling. Climate Pros Tucson matches you with a licensed pro who can run the numbers for your house.

Why does a mild winter weaken the case?

A more efficient furnace saves money on every hour it runs. The less it runs, the longer the extra equipment cost takes to earn back. The 1991-2020 normals at Tucson International Airport show about 1,333 heating degree days a year and about 3,424 cooling degree days, roughly 2.6 cooling degree days for every heating degree day. Fewer than 12 nights a year fall to 32F or below. The City of Tucson’s winter design temperature is 35F.

The cost comparison then depends on the quote, the gas rate and how you use the furnace. Southwest Gas is the gas utility here. Its 2026 Arizona residential rebate application lists showerheads, clothes washers and windows, and no furnace or thermostat rebate. Check for any change before you decide.

What does the efficiency rating tell you?

Furnaces carry an efficiency rating that describes how much of the fuel becomes heat for the house. Ask the pro for the rating of each model quoted and the installed price of each, then compare the gap. That is the extra you pay for the higher rating. Divide it by what you expect to save in a normal Tucson winter. If the answer is a long time, a standard model or a heat pump may fit better.

When might the high-efficiency model still make sense?

  • Your home has little electric capacity and you want to keep gas heat
  • You are replacing a furnace in a home with a long, cold stretch, such as Mount Lemmon or Summerhaven, where the annual heating degree days are about 4,024. See HVAC in Mount Lemmon and Summerhaven
  • Your pro finds the vent or flue situation favors one type

Why should you price a heat pump first?

In the Tucson basin, a heat pump is the sensible default: heating needs are mild and the same unit cools the house. Across Arizona, about 25% of homes use a central heat pump as main heat and 55% use a central furnace, according to the EIA’s 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Those are statewide figures, not Tucson ones. Read heat pump vs gas furnace, do heat pumps work in Tucson winter and dual fuel heat pump before you pick.

TEP’s Efficient Home program listed up to $720 for a heat pump quality installation in October 2026, through participating contractors. Amounts change, so confirm with TEP or the contractor.

What should the quote include?

Ask for the efficiency rating, the installed price in dollars, permit handling (the City of Tucson requires a permit for a new or replacement furnace, and the contractor pulls it), the ductwork plan and the written warranty. See furnace replacement cost in Tucson for what drives the total.

Comparing a furnace and a heat pump

For a furnace repair or a heat pump comparison, call (520) 353-2520 and we’ll match you with a licensed local pro. You can also see heat pump service or the Tucson HVAC hub. Check any contractor’s license at roc.az.gov.