Heat pump vs Furnace in Codington County, South Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning along with heat and you're set on staying off gas. Choose a cold-climate model, not a standard one. At 6°F on a typical winter night here, a standard heat pump loses much of its heating power right when you need it most, while a cold-climate unit is built to keep working in that cold. Expect to pay more to heat your home this way, since gas runs at least 35% cheaper here at current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and it's what most of your neighbors already have. It costs less to run than a heat pump at South Dakota gas and electric prices, and it doesn't lose output as the temperature drops, which matters with nights averaging 6°F through the winter. The one thing it won't do is cool your home in summer, so if you want both from one system, weigh that against the running cost difference.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want air conditioning along with heat and you're set on staying off gas. Choose a cold-climate model, not a standard one. At 6°F on a typical winter night here, a standard heat pump loses much of its heating power right when you need it most, while a cold-climate unit is built to keep working in that cold. Expect to pay more to heat your home this way, since gas runs at least 35% cheaper here at current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and it's what most of your neighbors already have. It costs less to run than a heat pump at South Dakota gas and electric prices, and it doesn't lose output as the temperature drops, which matters with nights averaging 6°F through the winter. The one thing it won't do is cool your home in summer, so if you want both from one system, weigh that against the running cost difference.
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 Codington County.
Winter nights here average 6°F, and gas heat costs at least 35% less than a heat pump, so most homes here heat with a furnace.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a Codington County winter 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 6°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 air conditioning along with heat and you're set on staying off gas. Choose a cold-climate model, not a standard one. At 6°F on a typical winter night here, a standard heat pump loses much of its heating power right when you need it most, while a cold-climate unit is built to keep working in that cold. Expect to pay more to heat your home this way, since gas runs at least 35% cheaper here at current prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace is the right call for most homes here, and it's what most of your neighbors already have. It costs less to run than a heat pump at South Dakota gas and electric prices, and it doesn't lose output as the temperature drops, which matters with nights averaging 6°F through the winter. The one thing it won't do is cool your home in summer, so if you want both from one system, weigh that against the running cost difference.
A Codington County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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