Is a heat pump worth it in South Carolina?

At South Carolina prices a typical heat pump heats a house for about $472 a year, against $463 for a 95% gas furnace; it wins clearly against propane, oil and electric resistance heat, and it also replaces the air conditioner.

Do I need a cold-climate heat pump in South Carolina?

Generally not. None of the South Carolina cities we track has winters cold enough to require a cold-climate model, although one still helps on the coldest nights.

Mild winters

Best heat pumps for South Carolina

In South Carolina a gas furnace still heats for a little less, but a heat pump also replaces the air conditioner.

A typical heat pump costs about $472 a year to heat a house, against $463 for a 95% gas furnace, at 15.7¢/kWh and $1.63/therm.

Cheapest to run in South Carolina

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: $672

Lowest yearly running cost in the state's climate.

Full specs and running cost

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: $205

Lowest yearly running cost in the state's climate.

Full specs and running cost

City guides

Each guide uses that city's own climate data. Typical yearly cost of a 3-ton heat pump, heating plus cooling:

Charleston$975/yr
Columbia$1,132/yr
North Charleston$1,038/yr

More for South Carolina

Heat pump vs. gas, propane and oil$472 vs. $463 gas

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$463/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$472/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$550/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$830/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$1,244/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$1,370/yr

Top 8: 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $672/yr

TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL12.2 HSPF2 · $672/yr
LG KUSXA361A10.5 HSPF2 · $814/yr
LG KUSXB361A10.3 HSPF2 · $849/yr
Trane 5TWV0X36A110.5 HSPF2 · $862/yr
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A10.5 HSPF2 · $874/yr
Heil H5H3V36*K*AAA9.5 HSPF2 · $874/yr
Daikin DH9VSA361CA10.0 HSPF2 · $883/yr
Sure SP19AY36AJVC10.0 HSPF2 · $883/yr

All 3-ton heat pumps

Top 8: 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $205/yr

Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP113.7 HSPF2 · $205/yr
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W14.5 HSPF2 · $214/yr
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA14.5 HSPF2 · $214/yr
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH112.7 HSPF2 · $217/yr
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS112.9 HSPF2 · $219/yr
Carrier 37MPRAQ12AA312.7 HSPF2 · $220/yr
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAH112.7 HSPF2 · $220/yr
Mainline ML12HP230CALH-O12.7 HSPF2 · $220/yr

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Climate in the state's citiesNOAA normals

Charleston0.0 nights ≤ 0°F · 25 days ≥ 90°F
Columbia0.0 nights ≤ 0°F · 83 days ≥ 90°F
North Charleston0.0 nights ≤ 0°F · 64 days ≥ 90°F

Questions2

Is a heat pump worth it in South Carolina?: At South Carolina prices a typical heat pump heats a house for about $472 a year, against $463 for a 95% gas furnace; it wins clearly against propane, oil and electric resistance heat, and it also replaces the air conditioner.
Do I need a cold-climate heat pump in South Carolina?: Generally not. None of the South Carolina cities we track has winters cold enough to require a cold-climate model, although one still helps on the coldest nights.

Running cost calculator

Pre-filled with South Carolina prices. Pick your city and what you heat with today.

Heat pump $635/yrYou save $373/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: $635
Current system, per year: $1,008
You save per year: $373
Payback: 24.1 years
Net after 10 years: -$5,270

Cooling $321Heating $314Electricity used: 4,040 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $191

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.