Do heat pumps work in Grand Rapids winters?

Grand Rapids sees about 52 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 21°F, and the heating season adds up to 6,408 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

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

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $2,142 of electricity a year for heating and $222 for cooling in Grand Rapids, at the Michigan average of 21.0¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Grand Rapids?

Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $2,142 a year with a typical heat pump versus $1,015 with a 95% gas furnace (Michigan averages: 21.0¢/kWh, $1.05/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 Grand Rapids?

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 Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids sees about 52 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 $2,142 a year to heat a house here and $222 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $1,015 for the same heat.

Nights at or below 0°F4.4 a year
Nights at or below 20°F52 a year
Days at or above 90°F9.9 a year
Average winter low21°F
Average summer high81°F
Electricity21.0¢ per kWh
Natural gas$1.05 per therm

Cheapest to run in Grand Rapids

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: $489

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: $978

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: $1,707

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Grand Rapids

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

Heat pump $1,554/yrCosts more by $499/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: $1,554
Current system, per year: $1,055
Costs more per year: $499
Payback: No payback
Net after 10 years: -$13,988

Cooling $126Heating $1,428Electricity used: 7,400 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $336

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 Grand Rapids

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $489/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$489
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$489
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$509
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$541
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$547

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $978/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$978
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$1,065
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$1,071
Comfort-Aire A-VHP24SA-1	21.0	13.5	$1,072
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$1,079

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $1,707/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$1,707
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$1,997
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$2,016
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$2,020
Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A	20.0	10.4	$2,043

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, 2,550 full-load hours) at Michigan prices.

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$1,015/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$1,205/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$2,142/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$2,470/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$4,354/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$5,650/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $417 in January

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 21.0¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	1,246	0	$417
February	1,075	0	$359
March	910	1	$304
April	528	5	$178
May	225	45	$89
June	38	154	$59
July	5	247	$77
August	12	200	$65
September	119	73	$62
October	428	8	$145
November	750	0	$251
December	1,073	0	$359

What size heat pump for a Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids winters?: Grand Rapids sees about 52 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 21°F, and the heating season adds up to 6,408 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Grand Rapids?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $2,142 of electricity a year for heating and $222 for cooling in Grand Rapids, at the Michigan average of 21.0¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Grand Rapids?: Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $2,142 a year with a typical heat pump versus $1,015 with a 95% gas furnace (Michigan averages: 21.0¢/kWh, $1.05/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 Grand Rapids?: 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 GRAND RAPIDS (12 km away).