Do heat pumps work in Salt Lake City winters?

Salt Lake City sees about 32 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 26°F, and the heating season adds up to 5,154 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Salt Lake City?

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,091 of electricity a year for heating and $282 for cooling in Salt Lake City, at the Utah average of 13.3¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Salt Lake City?

Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,091 a year with a typical heat pump versus $761 with a 95% gas furnace (Utah averages: 13.3¢/kWh, $0.98/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 Salt Lake City?

With average insulation, roughly a 4-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 30,600 BTU/h and the heating load 46,000 BTU/h. Use the size calculator for your own house, and ask installers for a Manual J calculation.

Cold winters · Warm summers

Best heat pumps for Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City sees about 32 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 $1,091 a year to heat a house here and $282 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $761 for the same heat.

This guide also covers West Valley City and West Jordan, which share Salt Lake City's weather station and climate data.

Nights at or below 0°F0.6 a year
Nights at or below 20°F32 a year
Days at or above 90°F62 a year
Average winter low26°F
Average summer high90°F
Electricity13.3¢ per kWh
Natural gas$0.98 per therm

Cheapest to run in Salt Lake City

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: $284

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: $568

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: $966

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Salt Lake City

Pre-filled with Salt Lake City's climate and Utah prices. Pick a model, tell it what you heat with today, and add your quote.

Heat pump $887/yrYou save $35/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: $887
Current system, per year: $922
You save per year: $35
Payback: Over 30 years
Net after 10 years: -$8,652

Cooling $160Heating $728Electricity used: 6,667 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $209

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 Salt Lake City

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $284/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$284
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$284
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$290
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$308
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$310

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $568/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$568
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$628
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$636
ComfortStar CHF3-24CD(O)	22.3	13.3	$636
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$636

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $966/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$966
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$1,139
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$1,164
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$1,169
LG KUSXB361A	22.0	10.3	$1,171

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, 2,050 full-load hours) at Utah prices.

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$761/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$904/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$1,091/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$1,892/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$2,879/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$3,745/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $221 in January

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 13.3¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	1,041	0	$221
February	794	0	$168
March	596	0	$126
April	400	5	$86
May	172	63	$49
June	36	234	$54
July	1	500	$100
August	2	441	$88
September	59	163	$45
October	337	14	$74
November	698	0	$148
December	1,018	0	$216

What size heat pump for a Salt Lake City home?4 ton for 2,000 sq ft

1,000 sq ft house2 ton · heating load 23,000 BTU/h
1,500 sq ft house3 ton · heating load 34,500 BTU/h
2,000 sq ft house4 ton · heating load 46,000 BTU/h
2,500 sq ft house5 ton · heating load 57,500 BTU/h

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

Questions4

Do heat pumps work in Salt Lake City winters?: Salt Lake City sees about 32 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 26°F, and the heating season adds up to 5,154 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Salt Lake City?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,091 of electricity a year for heating and $282 for cooling in Salt Lake City, at the Utah average of 13.3¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Salt Lake City?: Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,091 a year with a typical heat pump versus $761 with a 95% gas furnace (Utah averages: 13.3¢/kWh, $0.98/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 Salt Lake City?: With average insulation, roughly a 4-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 30,600 BTU/h and the heating load 46,000 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 SALT LAKE CITY INTL AP (3 km away).