Do heat pumps work in Colorado Springs winters?

Colorado Springs sees about 68 nights a year at or below 20°F. A cold-climate certified model keeps the house warm without leaning on backup heat. The average winter low is 19°F, and the heating season adds up to 5,889 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

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

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,556 of electricity a year for heating and $158 for cooling in Colorado Springs, at the Colorado average of 16.6¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Colorado Springs?

Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,556 a year with a typical heat pump versus $962 with a 95% gas furnace (Colorado averages: 16.6¢/kWh, $1.08/therm). A high-HSPF2 model narrows the gap, and a heat pump also replaces the air conditioner. Against propane, oil or electric heat it is usually far cheaper.

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

With average insulation, roughly a 5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 27,600 BTU/h and the heating load 54,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

Cold winters · Mild summers

Best heat pumps for Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs sees about 68 nights a year at or below 20°F. A cold-climate certified model keeps the house warm without leaning on backup heat.

A typical heat pump costs about $1,556 a year to heat a house here and $158 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $962 for the same heat.

Nights at or below 0°F4.1 a year
Nights at or below 20°F68 a year
Days at or above 90°F23 a year
Average winter low19°F
Average summer high84°F
Electricity16.6¢ per kWh
Natural gas$1.08 per therm

Cheapest to run in Colorado Springs

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

Best 12,000 BTU mini-split

MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W

12,000 BTU mini-split · MSOP series · cold-climate certified

SEER2: 27.5
HSPF2: 14.5
Per year here: $354

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: $709

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: $1,238

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Colorado Springs

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

Heat pump $1,127/yrCosts more by $186/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: $1,127
Current system, per year: $940
Costs more per year: $186
Payback: No payback
Net after 10 years: -$10,864

Cooling $89Heating $1,037Electricity used: 6,807 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $243

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 Colorado Springs

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $354/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$354
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$354
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$369
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$392
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$397

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $709/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$709
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$772
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$776
Comfort-Aire A-VHP24SA-1	21.0	13.5	$777
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$782

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $1,238/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$1,238
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$1,448
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$1,461
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$1,464
Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A	20.0	10.4	$1,480

All 3-ton central heat pumps

Heat pump vs. gas, propane and oilgas is cheaper to run

Yearly cost to heat a typical house (36,000 BTU/h of heat, 2,350 full-load hours) at Colorado prices.

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$962/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$1,142/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$1,556/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$2,329/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$4,104/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$4,293/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $273 in December

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 16.6¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	1,031	0	$272
February	886	0	$234
March	741	0	$196
April	526	1	$139
May	262	17	$74
June	53	119	$45
July	6	234	$62
August	14	172	$49
September	122	62	$48
October	448	3	$119
November	767	0	$203
December	1,034	0	$273

What size heat pump for a Colorado Springs home?5 ton for 2,000 sq ft

1,000 sq ft house2.5 ton · heating load 27,000 BTU/h
1,500 sq ft house3.5 ton · heating load 40,500 BTU/h
2,000 sq ft house5 ton · heating load 54,000 BTU/h
2,500 sq ft house5+ ton · heating load 67,500 BTU/h

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

Questions4

Do heat pumps work in Colorado Springs winters?: Colorado Springs sees about 68 nights a year at or below 20°F. A cold-climate certified model keeps the house warm without leaning on backup heat. The average winter low is 19°F, and the heating season adds up to 5,889 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Colorado Springs?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,556 of electricity a year for heating and $158 for cooling in Colorado Springs, at the Colorado average of 16.6¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Colorado Springs?: Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,556 a year with a typical heat pump versus $962 with a 95% gas furnace (Colorado averages: 16.6¢/kWh, $1.08/therm). A high-HSPF2 model narrows the gap, and a heat pump also replaces the air conditioner. Against propane, oil or electric heat it is usually far cheaper.
What size heat pump do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house in Colorado Springs?: With average insulation, roughly a 5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 27,600 BTU/h and the heating load 54,000 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 COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP (9 km away).