Do heat pumps work in Bellevue winters?

Winters in Bellevue are moderate - about 1.6 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 37°F, and the heating season adds up to 4,390 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

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

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $991 of electricity a year for heating and $60 for cooling in Bellevue, at the Washington average of 14.2¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

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

Yes, for heating at today's prices: about $991 a year with a typical heat pump versus $1,127 with a 95% gas furnace, using Washington averages of 14.2¢/kWh and $1.70/therm.

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

With average insulation, roughly a 4-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 27,600 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.

Moderate winters · Mild summers

Best heat pumps for Bellevue, WA

Winters in Bellevue are moderate - about 1.6 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them.

A typical heat pump costs about $991 a year to heat a house here and $60 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $1,127 for the same heat, so the heat pump is cheaper to run.

This guide also covers Renton, which share Bellevue's weather station and climate data.

Nights at or below 0°F0 a year
Nights at or below 20°F1.6 a year
Days at or above 90°F3.9 a year
Average winter low37°F
Average summer high75°F
Electricity14.2¢ per kWh
Natural gas$1.70 per therm

Cheapest to run in Bellevue

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: $217

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: $435

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: $766

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Bellevue

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

Heat pump $695/yrYou save $266/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: $695
Current system, per year: $960
You save per year: $266
Payback: Over 30 years
Net after 10 years: -$6,343

Cooling $34Heating $661Electricity used: 4,907 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $146

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 Bellevue

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $217/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$217
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$217
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$228
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$242
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$245

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $435/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$435
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$471
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$473
Comfort-Aire A-VHP24SA-1	21.0	13.5	$473
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$478

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $766/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$766
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$893
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$898
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$899
Lennox EL21KLV-036-230A	20.0	10.4	$909

All 3-ton central heat pumps

Heat pump vs. gas, propane and oilheat pump is cheaper than gas

Yearly cost to heat a typical house (36,000 BTU/h of heat, 1,750 full-load hours) at Washington prices.

Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$991/yr
Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$1,127/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$1,339/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$1,938/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$2,615/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$3,197/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $162 in December

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 14.2¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	696	0	$157
February	598	0	$135
March	555	0	$125
April	412	1	$93
May	237	8	$55
June	110	29	$32
July	25	97	$28
August	20	97	$27
September	106	26	$30
October	351	1	$79
November	563	0	$127
December	719	0	$162

What size heat pump for a Bellevue 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 Bellevue winters?: Winters in Bellevue are moderate - about 1.6 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 37°F, and the heating season adds up to 4,390 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Bellevue?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $991 of electricity a year for heating and $60 for cooling in Bellevue, at the Washington average of 14.2¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Bellevue?: Yes, for heating at today's prices: about $991 a year with a typical heat pump versus $1,127 with a 95% gas furnace, using Washington averages of 14.2¢/kWh and $1.70/therm.
What size heat pump do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house in Bellevue?: With average insulation, roughly a 4-ton system: the estimated cooling load is 27,600 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 RENTON MUNI AP (12 km away).