Heat pump vs Furnace in Lincoln County, South Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you're set on staying off gas. Look for a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power once temperatures drop toward 12°F the way they do here from December through February. Expect to pay more to run it than a furnace, since gas heat costs at least 35% less here at South Dakota prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace suits most homes in Lincoln County, given how cold winter nights get here and how much of the year, about 8 months, needs heat. It costs less to run than a heat pump at South Dakota gas and electric prices, and it holds its output no matter how far the temperature drops. If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the simpler and cheaper machine to heat with here.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you're set on staying off gas. Look for a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power once temperatures drop toward 12°F the way they do here from December through February. Expect to pay more to run it than a furnace, since gas heat costs at least 35% less here at South Dakota prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace suits most homes in Lincoln County, given how cold winter nights get here and how much of the year, about 8 months, needs heat. It costs less to run than a heat pump at South Dakota gas and electric prices, and it holds its output no matter how far the temperature drops. If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the simpler and cheaper machine to heat with here.
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 Lincoln County.
Nights here average 12°F all winter, and gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump, so gas wins on this cold and this budget.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 12°F night without the cost of bringing gas service in.
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 12°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
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling and heating from one system and you're set on staying off gas. Look for a cold-climate model, since a standard heat pump loses heating power once temperatures drop toward 12°F the way they do here from December through February. Expect to pay more to run it than a furnace, since gas heat costs at least 35% less here at South Dakota prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace suits most homes in Lincoln County, given how cold winter nights get here and how much of the year, about 8 months, needs heat. It costs less to run than a heat pump at South Dakota gas and electric prices, and it holds its output no matter how far the temperature drops. If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the simpler and cheaper machine to heat with here.
A Lincoln County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.