Heat pumps are becoming a popular option for heating and cooling in Minnesota. But are they effective as a year-round heating and cooling source? More importantly, can they stand up to our sub-zero winters? Let’s take a look at these questions so you can make sure your home stays toasty warm all winter. 

What is a heat pump?

Before we discuss whether a heat pump can be used in Minnesota, we should define which type of heat pump we are talking about. There are two main types of heat pumps.

Air source heat pump 

An air source heat pump is a heating and cooling system that moves warm air out of your home when the weather is hot and warm air into your home when the weather is cold. When most people are talking about heat pumps, air source heat pumps are the type they are referring to, and they will be the heat pump we discuss in this post. 

Geothermal heat pump 

The other type of heat pump is a geothermal heat pump. Geothermal heat pumps, also known as ground source heat pumps, are cheap to operate but are at least an order of magnitude more expensive than air source heat pumps. 

You read that correctly: geothermal heat pumps can cost as much as $30,000 to $45,000 for equipment and installation for higher end models. That high installation cost can make offsetting your investment with lower utility bills a lifetime project. 

Because of their high price tag, geothermal heat pumps are not as common in Minnesota. However, they can still be found in homes throughout the Twin Cities because they are able to effectively warm a home even on our coldest winter days and are one of the most eco-friendly options currently available. 

Can I use a heat pump in Minnesota? 

The short answer to the question of whether air source heat pumps can be used in Minnesota is: technically, yes you can. But that comes with a big caveat: nearly every type of air source heat pump is rated to work down to about 30 degrees. Some newer models may be rated to work down to 0 degrees. 

But, if you’ve spent any time in Minnesota, you know that we can go weeks or even a month or longer with temperatures that fall below 0—or never get above 0! On those days you will need an auxiliary heat source, which is most commonly a heat strip or electric baseboards, neither of which are as efficient as a heat pump or a gas furnace. 

So, yes, an air source heat pump is an option for heating your home in the spring and fall and cooling your home in the summer. 

The bottom line: we do not recommend using an air source heat pump as your primary heating source for winters in Minnesota. 

When does it make sense to use a heat pump in Minnesota?

While we strongly recommend using a gas furnace to heat your home whenever possible, sometimes a gas furnace is not an option. But, for every rule there is an exception. An air source heat pump may be the best choice for these types of homes:

• A house that does not have a gas line connection
• A house that is powered solely by solar panels
• A house where the gas source is a propane tank

Gas furnaces are the best source of heat in Minnesota

For most homes in Minnesota, we highly recommend a gas furnace as your primary source of heat. Gas furnaces are 96%-97% efficient, less expensive to power, and can operate effectively at significantly colder temperatures. Newer furnaces with two stage motors are even more efficient, and can help lower costs on milder days because they split their power between gas and electricity. And because air source heat pumps are run twice as long (in the summer and in the winter), they need to be replaced twice as often. 

Welter installs and services heat pumps

If you have decided an air source heat pump is right for your home, we can help you out! Our expert technicians can install a new Trane XLi or Trane XB air source heat pump to heat and cool your home.