Heat pump vs Furnace in Stark County, North Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling in the summer and heat in the winter from one system, a cold-climate heat pump can do both. It has to be a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward zero. Expect to pay more to run it than a furnace at North Dakota gas prices, since winter nights here average 7°F.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the cheaper way to heat it here, at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota gas prices. It holds its output no matter how cold the night gets, which matters when winter lows average 7°F and heat is needed most of the year. It will not cool your home, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for summer.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you want cooling in the summer and heat in the winter from one system, a cold-climate heat pump can do both. It has to be a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward zero. Expect to pay more to run it than a furnace at North Dakota gas prices, since winter nights here average 7°F.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the cheaper way to heat it here, at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota gas prices. It holds its output no matter how cold the night gets, which matters when winter lows average 7°F and heat is needed most of the year. It will not cool your home, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for summer.
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 Stark County.
Winter nights here average 7°F, and gas heat costs at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota prices.
If your home has no gas line, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through those 7°F nights and cool it come summer.
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 7°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 in the summer and heat in the winter from one system, a cold-climate heat pump can do both. It has to be a cold-climate model, since standard heat pumps lose heating power once temperatures drop toward zero. Expect to pay more to run it than a furnace at North Dakota gas prices, since winter nights here average 7°F.
When a furnace makes sense
If your home already has a gas line, a furnace is the cheaper way to heat it here, at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota gas prices. It holds its output no matter how cold the night gets, which matters when winter lows average 7°F and heat is needed most of the year. It will not cool your home, so you would still need a separate air conditioner for summer.
A Stark County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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