Heat pump vs Furnace in Richland County, North Dakota
When a heat pump makes sense
If your house already has gas heat and you mainly want air conditioning added, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look, since it is built to keep working at low temperatures where a standard model would fall off. Weigh it against a furnace on running cost, though. With winter nights here averaging 5°F, natural gas will still cost less to heat with.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes in Richland County, a furnace is the better fit. Winter nights here average 5°F from December through February, and gas heating costs at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota prices, so the savings add up over the roughly nine months a year your home needs heat. If you want air conditioning too, that runs separately from the furnace.
When a heat pump makes sense
If your house already has gas heat and you mainly want air conditioning added, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look, since it is built to keep working at low temperatures where a standard model would fall off. Weigh it against a furnace on running cost, though. With winter nights here averaging 5°F, natural gas will still cost less to heat with.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes in Richland County, a furnace is the better fit. Winter nights here average 5°F from December through February, and gas heating costs at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota prices, so the savings add up over the roughly nine months a year your home needs heat. If you want air conditioning too, that runs separately from the furnace.
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 Richland County.
Nights here average 5°F all winter, and gas heat runs at least 30% cheaper than a heat pump at North Dakota prices.
If your home has no gas line to tap into, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 5°F night and cool it in 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 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 your house already has gas heat and you mainly want air conditioning added, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look, since it is built to keep working at low temperatures where a standard model would fall off. Weigh it against a furnace on running cost, though. With winter nights here averaging 5°F, natural gas will still cost less to heat with.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes in Richland County, a furnace is the better fit. Winter nights here average 5°F from December through February, and gas heating costs at least 30% less than a heat pump at North Dakota prices, so the savings add up over the roughly nine months a year your home needs heat. If you want air conditioning too, that runs separately from the furnace.
A Richland County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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