Heat pump vs Furnace in Union County, South Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling as well as heat from one system, or if you don't have natural gas run to your house. Look for a cold-climate model. A standard heat pump loses heating power as the temperature drops, and your winter nights here average 13°F. Expect to pay more to run it than a gas furnace at South Dakota's gas and electric prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call if you already have a gas line to your house, which most homes here do. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at local prices, and it doesn't lose output on your coldest nights. It won't cool your house in summer, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for that.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want cooling as well as heat from one system, or if you don't have natural gas run to your house. Look for a cold-climate model. A standard heat pump loses heating power as the temperature drops, and your winter nights here average 13°F. Expect to pay more to run it than a gas furnace at South Dakota's gas and electric prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call if you already have a gas line to your house, which most homes here do. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at local prices, and it doesn't lose output on your coldest nights. It won't cool your house in summer, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for that.
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 Union County.
Winter nights here average 13°F, cold enough to strain a heat pump, and gas heat runs at least 35% cheaper.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still get you through a Union County winter and cool the house 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 13°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 as well as heat from one system, or if you don't have natural gas run to your house. Look for a cold-climate model. A standard heat pump loses heating power as the temperature drops, and your winter nights here average 13°F. Expect to pay more to run it than a gas furnace at South Dakota's gas and electric prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call if you already have a gas line to your house, which most homes here do. It costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at local prices, and it doesn't lose output on your coldest nights. It won't cool your house in summer, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for that.
A Union County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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