Do heat pumps work in Philadelphia winters?

Winters in Philadelphia are moderate - about 20 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 29°F, and the heating season adds up to 4,466 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

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

A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,494 of electricity a year for heating and $417 for cooling in Philadelphia, at the Pennsylvania average of 20.8¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.

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

Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,494 a year with a typical heat pump versus $989 with a 95% gas furnace (Pennsylvania averages: 20.8¢/kWh, $1.45/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 Philadelphia?

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.

Moderate winters · Warm summers

Best heat pumps for Philadelphia, PA

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

A typical heat pump costs about $1,494 a year to heat a house here and $417 to cool it. A 95% gas furnace would cost $989 for the same heat.

Nights at or below 0°F0 a year
Nights at or below 20°F20 a year
Days at or above 90°F29 a year
Average winter low29°F
Average summer high86°F
Electricity20.8¢ per kWh
Natural gas$1.45 per therm

Cheapest to run in Philadelphia

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: $395

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: $790

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: $1,341

For typical whole house.

Full specs and running cost

Running cost calculator for Philadelphia

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

Heat pump $1,233/yrYou save $24/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: $1,233
Current system, per year: $1,256
You save per year: $24
Payback: Over 30 years
Net after 10 years: -$8,765

Cooling $237Heating $996Electricity used: 5,940 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $293

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 Philadelphia

Top 5 12,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $395/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
MDV MOX430-12HFN1-MZ60W	27.5	14.5	$395
Goodman MSH123G26MCAA	27.5	14.5	$395
Fujitsu AOUH12KTAP1	31.5	13.7	$402
Fujitsu AOUG12LZAS1	29.4	12.9	$428
Fujitsu AOUH12KZAH1	30.5	12.7	$430

All 12,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 24,000 BTU mini-splitsfrom $790/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
SLIMAIR SHC24VH2AG	27.5	14.5	$790
MDV MOD30-24HFN10-M1X	22.3	13.5	$876
Mainline ML24HP230NEXH-O	22.3	13.3	$886
ComfortStar CHF3-24CD(O)	22.3	13.3	$886
Arcoaire D5CSHAH24AAK	21.2	13.5	$887

All 24,000 BTU mini-splits

Top 5 3-ton central heat pumpsfrom $1,341/yr

Model	SEER2	HSPF2	Per year
TOSHIBA CARRIER MCY-MUB0368HS2P-UL	29.7	12.2	$1,341
LG KUSXA361A	23.5	10.5	$1,583
Trane 5TWV0X36A1	21.0	10.5	$1,619
Lennox SL22KLV-036-230A	20.5	10.5	$1,627
LG KUSXB361A	22.0	10.3	$1,628

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, 1,800 full-load hours) at Pennsylvania prices.

Natural gas furnace, 95% AFUE$989/yr
Natural gas furnace, 80% AFUE$1,175/yr
Heat pump (typical, 9.0 HSPF2)$1,494/yr
Propane furnace, 95% AFUE$2,349/yr
Heating oil, 85% AFUE$3,211/yr
Electric baseboard or furnace$3,941/yr

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

Month by monthpeak $319 in January

Heating and cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and what a typical 3-ton heat pump costs in each month at 20.8¢/kWh.

Month	Heating DD	Cooling DD	Cost
January	955	0	$319
February	798	0	$267
March	655	1	$220
April	328	19	$116
May	106	84	$61
June	10	268	$85
July	0	428	$130
August	1	369	$112
September	32	176	$64
October	248	28	$91
November	526	1	$176
December	808	0	$270

What size heat pump for a Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia winters?: Winters in Philadelphia are moderate - about 20 nights a year at or below 20°F - and any modern variable-speed heat pump handles them. The average winter low is 29°F, and the heating season adds up to 4,466 heating degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
How much does it cost to run a heat pump in Philadelphia?: A typical 3-ton central heat pump (17.0 SEER2, 9.0 HSPF2) uses about $1,494 of electricity a year for heating and $417 for cooling in Philadelphia, at the Pennsylvania average of 20.8¢/kWh. The most efficient models cost less - see the rankings above.
Is a heat pump cheaper than a gas furnace in Philadelphia?: Not on heating alone at today's prices: about $1,494 a year with a typical heat pump versus $989 with a 95% gas furnace (Pennsylvania averages: 20.8¢/kWh, $1.45/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 Philadelphia?: 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 PHILADELPHIA NE AP (13 km away).