One Year Later: Why This Kirkland Homeowner Doesn't Miss His Gas Furnace

One year after replacing his gas furnace with a heat pump, Gary reflects on lower energy use, quieter heating, year-round comfort, and finally having air conditioning.

When Gary and his wife decided to replace their aging gas furnace in April 2025, they weren't simply replacing old equipment—they were rethinking how their home uses energy.

Today, after a full year with a heat pump, Gary says the upgrade has transformed both the comfort and efficiency of his home.

Life before a heat pump

Pictured here is Gary, a Kirkland homeowner who installed a heat pump with the help of Energy Smart Eastside rebates and educational resources in 2025. Today, he volunteers with Energy Smart Eastside to help other homeowners learn about heat pumps and home energy upgrades.

For years, Gary's family heated their home with a traditional gas furnace and lived without air conditioning.

Like many longtime Pacific Northwest homeowners, Gary and his wife relied on cool nights to get through increasingly hot summers and wildfire smoke season. Whenever high temperatures were in the forecast, they'd open windows—and sometimes doors—all night to pre-cool the house before closing everything up the next morning.

It worked most of the time. But as summers became hotter, some days grew increasingly uncomfortable.

"I remember sleeping on the deck one night," Gary recalls. "We even left for the Olympic Coast more than once to escape the heat or wildfire smoke."

For the past year, those cumbersome routines have been a thing of the past. Instead of planning around the weather, Gary and his wife can simply enjoy a comfortable home year-round.

The path to a heat pump

Pictured is Gary’s heat pump outdoor unit, installed in 2025.

Gary first learned about Energy Smart Eastside while attending a heat pump workshop at Kirkland City Hall.

The workshop explained how heat pumps compare with traditional gas furnaces, outlined available rebates, and gave homeowners the opportunity to speak directly with a participating contractor.

After the event, Gary requested bids from three different HVAC contractors—following Energy Smart Eastside's recommendation to compare multiple estimates before making a decision.

The rebates helped make the timing right.

"We qualified for $6,000 in Energy Smart Eastside rebates, which was taken up front off the offer price, so there were no hassles applying on our part," Gary says.

Energy Smart Eastside partners with more than 30 participating HVAC contractors who are trained to apply available Energy Smart Eastside and local utility rebates directly to customers' estimates. That means eligible homeowners receive their savings upfront—without having to apply for rebates after installation.

"We might have waited a little longer on the heat pump without the rebate offer," he says. "Facing another summer without AC did not appeal."

Pictured are Gary's ducted heat pump air handler (right) and heat pump water heater (left).

A dramatic drop in energy use

After replacing both their gas furnace and gas water heater with heat pump technology, Gary carefully tracked his household's energy use over the following year.

Even Gary was surprised by the results.

His home's annual energy consumption dropped from approximately 17,500 kWh to 7,400 kWh—a reduction of about 58 percent.

While other efficiency improvements also contributed, Gary credits the heat pump as the single biggest factor. Looking specifically at space heating, the largest source of energy use in most Northwest homes, he estimates his heating energy use dropped by roughly 70 percent.

Comfort through every season

While the energy savings were significant, Gary says the biggest day-to-day improvement has been comfort.

The heat pump's variable-speed fan quietly runs at low speeds for longer periods rather than constantly switching fully on and off like a traditional furnace. The result is more even temperatures throughout the house with very little noise.

Instead of enduring uncomfortable afternoons—or sleeping outside—Gary and his wife can cool their home when needed while using relatively little energy.

And during wildfire smoke season, the heat pump continuously circulates filtered air throughout the home, making it easier to stay comfortable when outdoor air quality deteriorates.

Looking back after one year

Reflecting on the past year, Gary says the project delivered exactly what he hoped for.

Today, he and his wife enjoy lower energy use, quieter and more even heating during the winter, air conditioning for increasingly hot summers, improved comfort during wildfire smoke events, and the satisfaction of living in an all-electric home.

"The installation was the last piece of the puzzle that made us an all-electric home—something we're quite proud of."

For homeowners considering replacing an aging furnace, Gary's experience shows that a heat pump can provide year-round comfort while dramatically reducing the energy needed to heat a home.

Thinking About Making the Switch?

Energy Smart Eastside helps homeowners across Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond, and Sammamish learn about heat pumps, connect with participating installers, and understand available rebates.

If you're considering replacing your heating system, an Energy Smart Eastside advisor can help you explore your options and determine whether a heat pump is the right fit for your home.