Heat pump vs Furnace in Kenosha County, Wisconsin
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already have gas heat and mainly want central air conditioning added in, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look since it does both jobs. It still has to work hard when nights drop to 18°F, so pair it with backup heat for the coldest stretches rather than counting on it alone. Go in knowing your gas furnace will beat it on running cost at Wisconsin's gas prices.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes here, the furnace is the safer bet. Your winters run cold enough, and long enough, close to 8 months of the year, that a furnace burning natural gas will cost you at least 45% less to run than a heat pump. It's also what most of your neighbors already have, so a contractor working on it isn't guessing.
When a heat pump makes sense
If you already have gas heat and mainly want central air conditioning added in, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look since it does both jobs. It still has to work hard when nights drop to 18°F, so pair it with backup heat for the coldest stretches rather than counting on it alone. Go in knowing your gas furnace will beat it on running cost at Wisconsin's gas prices.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes here, the furnace is the safer bet. Your winters run cold enough, and long enough, close to 8 months of the year, that a furnace burning natural gas will cost you at least 45% less to run than a heat pump. It's also what most of your neighbors already have, so a contractor working on it isn't guessing.
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 Kenosha County.
Nights here average 18°F all winter, and gas heat runs at least 45% cheaper than a heat pump at Wisconsin prices.
If your home has no gas line to it, a cold-climate heat pump will still heat it through those 18-degree nights and cool it in summer too.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Heat pump | Furnace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | At least 45% less to run |
| What it does | Heats and cools | Heats only |
| Homes in the Great Lakes states that heat with one | 3.4% | 78.8% |
| Handles a 18°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 already have gas heat and mainly want central air conditioning added in, a cold-climate heat pump is worth a look since it does both jobs. It still has to work hard when nights drop to 18°F, so pair it with backup heat for the coldest stretches rather than counting on it alone. Go in knowing your gas furnace will beat it on running cost at Wisconsin's gas prices.
When a furnace makes sense
For most homes here, the furnace is the safer bet. Your winters run cold enough, and long enough, close to 8 months of the year, that a furnace burning natural gas will cost you at least 45% less to run than a heat pump. It's also what most of your neighbors already have, so a contractor working on it isn't guessing.
A Kenosha County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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