A heat pump can heat a Chicago house. It is not a reason to pull out a working furnace without a plan for the coldest weeks.
What the equipment actually does
A heat pump moves heat. In summer it moves heat out of the house, the same job as a central air conditioner. In winter it moves heat from outdoor air into the house. It is not a plug-in space heater, and it is not a gas furnace with a different name.
Chicago winter air is often well below freezing. The outdoor unit has to work harder as the temperature drops. Some systems are built for that and keep heating on their own. Others are paired with a gas furnace and hand the coldest hours to the furnace. That pairing is usually called dual fuel.
When a furnace should stay
A working furnace is not scrap just because a heat pump is newer. If the house already heats reliably, the useful question is whether a heat pump lowers the heating bill enough to justify the change, and what heats the house if the heat pump cannot keep up.
Replacing both the furnace and the air conditioner at once is a different job from adding a heat pump beside a furnace that still has years left. The ductwork, the electrical service, and the outdoor location all have to fit the new equipment. A nameplate photo and a walk-through answer that. A brochure does not.
What to ask before you buy
Ask whether the outdoor unit is a cold-climate model, whether the furnace stays as backup, and who will handle the refrigerant. Refrigerant work on this equipment is done by EPA Section 608 certified technicians.
Does the plan keep heat in the house on the coldest days, or does it assume the heat pump is enough on its own?
Will the existing ducts and electrical panel support the equipment, or does the job include that work?
Is the quote for a repair of the system you have, or for a full replacement?
Phone: 224 360-1633. Email: info@usaappliancehvac.com.