Do heat pumps work in Albuquerque winters?

Winters in Albuquerque are moderate - about 13 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 28°F, and the heating season adds up to 3,996 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

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

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $975 of electricity a year for heating and $323 for cooling in Albuquerque, at the New Mexico average of 15.2¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

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

Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $975 a year with a typical heat pump versus $576 with a 95% gas furnace (New Mexico averages: 15.2¢/kWh, $0.95/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 Albuquerque?

With average insulation, roughly a 3.5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 30,600 BTU/h and the heating load 38,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

Moderate winters · Warm summers

Best heat pumps for Albuquerque, NM

Winters in Albuquerque are moderate - about 13 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them.

A typical heat pump costs about $975 a year to heat a house here and $323 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $576 for the same heat.

This guide also covers Rio Rancho, which share Albuquerque's weather station and climate data.

Nights at or below 0°F0 a year
Nights at or below 20°F13 a year
Days at or above 90°F64 a year
Average winter low28°F
Average summer high90°F
Electricity15.2¢ per kWh
Natural gas$0.95 per therm

Cheapest to run in Albuquerque

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

MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W

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

SEER2: 27.5
HSPF2: 14.5
Per year here: $268

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: $537

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: $904

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Albuquerque

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

Heat pump $833/yrCosts more by $11/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: $833
Current system, per year: $822
Costs more per year: $11
Payback: No payback
Net after 10 years: -$9,114

Cooling $183Heating $650Electricity used: 5,467 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $203

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 Albuquerque

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $268/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$268
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$268
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$272
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$289
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$290

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $537/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$537
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$598
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$604
ComfortStar CHF3-24CD(O)	22.3	13.3	$604
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$606

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $904/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$904
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$1,069
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$1,097
LG KUSXB361A	22.0	10.3	$1,102
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$1,104

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, 1,600 full-load hours) at New Mexico prices.

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$576/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$684/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$975/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$1,772/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$2,573/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$2,923/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $212 in December

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 15.2¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	856	0	$209
February	645	0	$158
March	481	0	$117
April	255	7	$64
May	70	105	$41
June	2	336	$76
July	0	429	$96
August	0	367	$82
September	20	179	$45
October	220	13	$57
November	579	0	$141
December	870	0	$212

What size heat pump for a Albuquerque home?3.5 ton for 2,000 sq ft

1,000 sq ft house2 ton · heating load 19,000 BTU/h
1,500 sq ft house2.5 ton · heating load 28,500 BTU/h
2,000 sq ft house3.5 ton · heating load 38,000 BTU/h
2,500 sq ft house4 ton · heating load 47,500 BTU/h

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

Questions4

Do heat pumps work in Albuquerque winters?: Winters in Albuquerque are moderate - about 13 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 28°F, and the heating season adds up to 3,996 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Albuquerque?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $975 of electricity a year for heating and $323 for cooling in Albuquerque, at the New Mexico average of 15.2¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Albuquerque?: Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $975 a year with a typical heat pump versus $576 with a 95% gas furnace (New Mexico averages: 15.2¢/kWh, $0.95/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 Albuquerque?: With average insulation, roughly a 3.5-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 30,600 BTU/h and the heating load 38,000 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 ALBUQUERQUE INTL AP (8 km away).