Heat pump vs Furnace in Ramsey County, Minnesota
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want one system for both heating and cooling and you are willing to pay more to run it through a Ramsey County winter. Choose a cold-climate model rather than a standard one, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as temperatures drop toward the 10°F nights this area sees all winter. Even a cold-climate model will cost more to run than gas at Minnesota prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here, which is why most of your neighbors already heat with one. It holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside, and winter nights here average 10°F. It also costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Minnesota prices, which adds up over the 8 months a year this area needs heat.
When a heat pump makes sense
A heat pump makes sense if you want one system for both heating and cooling and you are willing to pay more to run it through a Ramsey County winter. Choose a cold-climate model rather than a standard one, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as temperatures drop toward the 10°F nights this area sees all winter. Even a cold-climate model will cost more to run than gas at Minnesota prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here, which is why most of your neighbors already heat with one. It holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside, and winter nights here average 10°F. It also costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Minnesota prices, which adds up over the 8 months a year this area needs heat.
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 Ramsey County.
Winter nights here average 10°F, and gas heats your home for at least 35% less than a heat pump at Minnesota prices.
If your home has no gas line to begin with, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through a 10°F night without that added cost tipping the other way.
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 10°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 one system for both heating and cooling and you are willing to pay more to run it through a Ramsey County winter. Choose a cold-climate model rather than a standard one, since standard heat pumps lose heating power as temperatures drop toward the 10°F nights this area sees all winter. Even a cold-climate model will cost more to run than gas at Minnesota prices.
When a furnace makes sense
A furnace fits most homes here, which is why most of your neighbors already heat with one. It holds its full output no matter how cold the night gets outside, and winter nights here average 10°F. It also costs at least 35% less to run than a heat pump at Minnesota prices, which adds up over the 8 months a year this area needs heat.
A Ramsey County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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