Do heat pumps work in Yuma winters?

Yuma barely needs heating; choose on cooling efficiency (SEER2 and EER2). The average winter low is 48°F, and the heating season adds up to 679 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Yuma?

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $155 of electricity a year for heating and $1,081 for cooling in Yuma, at the Arizona average of 15.5¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Yuma?

Yes, for heating at today's prices: about $155 a year with a typical heat pump versus $170 with a 95% gas furnace, using Arizona averages of 15.5¢/kWh and $1.79/therm.

What size heat pump do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house in Yuma?

With average insulation, roughly a 3-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 35,100 BTU/h and the heating load 20,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

Barely any heating season · Very hot summers

Best heat pumps for Yuma, AZ

Yuma barely needs heating; choose on cooling efficiency (SEER2 and EER2).

A typical heat pump costs about $155 a year to heat a house here and $1,081 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $170 for the same heat, so the heat pump is cheaper to run.

Nights at or below 0°F0 a year
Nights at or below 20°F0 a year
Days at or above 90°F181 a year
Average winter low48°F
Average summer high105°F
Electricity15.5¢ per kWh
Natural gas$1.79 per therm

Cheapest to run in Yuma

Ranked by yearly electricity cost in this climate, so the balance of heating and cooling efficiency is the one that matters here.

Best 12,000 BTU mini-split

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1

12,000 BTU mini-split · AIRSTAGE H-Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 31.5
HSPF2: 13.7
Per year here: $228

For one large room.

Full specs and running cost

Best 24,000 BTU mini-split

SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG

24,000 BTU mini-split · SHC Series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 27.5
HSPF2: 14.5
Per year here: $510

For open-plan floor or small home.

Full specs and running cost

Best 3-ton central heat pump

TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL

3 ton central · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 29.7
HSPF2: 12.2
Per year here: $733

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Yuma

Pre-filled with Yuma's climate and Arizona prices. Pick a model, tell it what you heat with today, and add your quote.

Heat pump $716/yrYou save $644/yrSee details ↓

1. Where you live

StateCityElectricity ¢ per kWh

Adjust heating and cooling hours

Filled in from your city's climate. Change them if you run the system much more or less than usual.

Cooling hours full-load hours per yearHeating hours full-load hours per year

2. The heat pump pick a model or type its ratings

Find a model (fills in the ratings below)

SEER2 cooling efficiencyHSPF2 heating efficiencyCooling capacity BTU/hHeating capacity BTU/h

3. What it replaces

Current heatingFurnace efficiency (AFUE %)Gas price, $/thermCurrent coolingOld AC rating SEER2 (10 ≈ 15+ years old)

4. Price replace the example with your quote

Installed price, $Rebates and incentives, $ utility, state

Heat pump, per year: $716
Current system, per year: $1,359
You save per year: $644
Payback: 14.0 years
Net after 10 years: -$2,563

Cooling $613Heating $103Electricity used: 4,627 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $265

Estimates use the unit's rated SEER2 and HSPF2, full-load hours derived from NOAA 1991-2020 degree days, average residential electricity prices from the U.S. EIA (12 months to July 2026) and fuel prices from EIA (2025 for natural gas, week of 2026-10-05 for propane and heating oil). Very cold days that need backup heat are not modelled. Federal minimum for comparison: 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.

More for Yuma

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $228/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$228
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$237
Mitsubishi Electric MUZ-FX12NLHZ	29.9	12.4	$242
Hisense AO-12U3T25P	30.0	11.8	$244
Carrier 37MPRAQ12AA3	29.5	12.7	$244

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $510/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$510
TOSOT TW24HAY32A1DO	27.0	10.0	$547
TCL TMH27HEI2NAS0U25	26.5	10.5	$551
Samsung AM024HCMDCG	26.0	10.7	$558
Quilt QO1-M3Z27-NC-NA	25.3	12.0	$562

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $733/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$733
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$915
Heil H5H3V36KAAA	22.5	9.5	$963
LG KUSXB361A	22.0	10.3	$971
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$1,008

All 3-ton central heat pumps

Heat pump vs. gas, propane and oilheat pump is cheaper than gas

Yearly cost to heat a typical house (36,000 BTU/h of heat, 250 full-load hours) at Arizona prices.

Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$155/yr
Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$170/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$201/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$277/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$408/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$457/yr

Electricity and natural gas: Arizona residential averages from the U.S. EIA; propane and heating oil: latest EIA weekly prices.

Month by monthpeak $212 in August

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 15.5¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	195	5	$46
February	118	32	$34
March	46	126	$39
April	11	254	$61
May	1	484	$111
June	0	725	$166
July	0	919	$211
August	0	924	$212
September	0	735	$169
October	2	404	$93
November	64	95	$36
December	241	3	$56

What size heat pump for a Yuma home?3 ton for 2,000 sq ft

1,000 sq ft house2 ton · heating load 10,000 BTU/h
1,500 sq ft house2.5 ton · heating load 15,000 BTU/h
2,000 sq ft house3 ton · heating load 20,000 BTU/h
2,500 sq ft house3.5 ton · heating load 25,000 BTU/h

Average insulation, 8 ft ceilings. Size calculator for your own home

Questions4

Do heat pumps work in Yuma winters?: Yuma barely needs heating; choose on cooling efficiency (SEER2 and EER2). The average winter low is 48°F, and the heating season adds up to 679 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Yuma?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $155 of electricity a year for heating and $1,081 for cooling in Yuma, at the Arizona average of 15.5¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Yuma?: Yes, for heating at today's prices: about $155 a year with a typical heat pump versus $170 with a 95% gas furnace, using Arizona averages of 15.5¢/kWh and $1.79/therm.
What size heat pump do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house in Yuma?: With average insulation, roughly a 3-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 35,100 BTU/h and the heating load 20,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

Nearby cities

Climate: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station YUMA MCAS (17 km away).