About thirteen miles west of downtown St. Louis, Maryland Heights mixes subdivisions with big apartment complexes across nearly 22 square miles, and that mix shows up in how residents keep warm.
| Population | about 27,900 |
| Occupied homes | about 12,600 |
| Detached houses | 50% |
| 10+ unit buildings | 23% |
| Median year built | 1975 |
| Gas heat / electric heat | 60% / 38% |
Thirty-eight percent electric is high for this metro
Apartment and condo buildings from the seventies and eighties were commonly built all-electric. Those residents are the clearest heat pump candidates: swapping old resistance coils for a heat pump and modern air handler keeps cooling the same and cuts the winter draw.
House with a gas line? Compare three setups
Gas-only heat: install a fresh furnace and condenser. Proven, strong output in subfreezing weather.
Hybrid: the outdoor unit becomes a heat pump; the furnace only fires below a set temperature. Electricity covers spring and fall, gas handles the deep freeze.
Cut the gas: heat pump with electric backup strips. Panel capacity decides whether it's practical.
One thing to verify in a mid-seventies house
Heat pumps push air that feels cooler at the register than a gas flame does, so they rely on generous airflow. Measure return grilles, look for kinked flex runs in the attic, and confirm the thermostat supports staged auxiliary heat before committing.
Who's behind this guide
Furnace Direct, a DBA of Hamlin Mechanical LLC — we ship factory-direct and our team installs across St. Louis County.
Timing and contact
Decide in a mild month, not mid-breakdown. Collect the model numbers, check your breaker panel amperage, then ring (888) 762-1334. Call for Pricing.
Table data: 2020–2024 ACS for Maryland Heights city, MO (Census Reporter).
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