Heat pump vs Furnace in Brookings County, South Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat and you're mainly adding air conditioning, a cold-climate heat pump can cover both. Pick a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 8°F from December through February. Expect it to cost more to run through a winter this long, since natural gas runs at least 35% cheaper here at current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A gas furnace holds its full heat output no matter how cold it gets outside, and winter nights here average 8°F from December through February. Heat is needed about 9 months of the year here, and natural gas costs at least 35% less to heat with than a heat pump at South Dakota prices. You'll still need a separate air conditioner for summer, since a furnace only heats.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat and you're mainly adding air conditioning, a cold-climate heat pump can cover both. Pick a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 8°F from December through February. Expect it to cost more to run through a winter this long, since natural gas runs at least 35% cheaper here at current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A gas furnace holds its full heat output no matter how cold it gets outside, and winter nights here average 8°F from December through February. Heat is needed about 9 months of the year here, and natural gas costs at least 35% less to heat with than a heat pump at South Dakota prices. You'll still need a separate air conditioner for summer, since a furnace only heats.
Heat pump
- Runs on
- Electricity
- What it does
- Heats and cools
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Furnace
- Runs on
- Natural gas
- What it does
- Heats only
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Furnace wins in Brookings County.
Nights here average 8°F all winter, and gas heat runs at least 35% cheaper than a heat pump at that cold.
If your home has no gas line to work with, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through nights at 8°F and cool it come summer.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 35% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Plains states that heat with one | 5.4% | 77.6% |
| Handles a 8°F night | Standard models lose heating power in the cold; cold-climate models are built for it | Yes |
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, NOAA
When a heat pump makes sense
If your home already has gas heat and you're mainly adding air conditioning, a cold-climate heat pump can cover both. Pick a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop, and winter nights here average 8°F from December through February. Expect it to cost more to run through a winter this long, since natural gas runs at least 35% cheaper here at current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A gas furnace holds its full heat output no matter how cold it gets outside, and winter nights here average 8°F from December through February. Heat is needed about 9 months of the year here, and natural gas costs at least 35% less to heat with than a heat pump at South Dakota prices. You'll still need a separate air conditioner for summer, since a furnace only heats.
A Brookings County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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