Heat pump vs Furnace in Burleigh County, North Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump gives you both. Look for a cold-climate model if you go this route. Nights here average 5°F in the depth of winter, and standard heat pumps lose heating power at those temperatures, so the equipment has to be built for that cold to keep up.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes here, a furnace is the cheaper way to stay warm. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than running a heat pump at North Dakota electricity prices, and that gap matters when you need heat about nine months of the year. It also keeps working the same way on the coldest nights in December through February, when the temperature itself becomes the challenge.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump gives you both. Look for a cold-climate model if you go this route. Nights here average 5°F in the depth of winter, and standard heat pumps lose heating power at those temperatures, so the equipment has to be built for that cold to keep up.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes here, a furnace is the cheaper way to stay warm. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than running a heat pump at North Dakota electricity prices, and that gap matters when you need heat about nine months of the year. It also keeps working the same way on the coldest nights in December through February, when the temperature itself becomes the challenge.
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 Burleigh County.
Winter nights here average 5°F and gas heat runs at least 30% cheaper than a heat pump, so the furnace wins.
If your home has no access to natural gas, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a Burleigh County winter.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 30% 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 5°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 you want cooling as well as heating from one system, a heat pump gives you both. Look for a cold-climate model if you go this route. Nights here average 5°F in the depth of winter, and standard heat pumps lose heating power at those temperatures, so the equipment has to be built for that cold to keep up.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes here, a furnace is the cheaper way to stay warm. Natural gas costs at least 30% less than running a heat pump at North Dakota electricity prices, and that gap matters when you need heat about nine months of the year. It also keeps working the same way on the coldest nights in December through February, when the temperature itself becomes the challenge.
A Burleigh County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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