Will a heat pump actually work here?
The calculator below uses the same baseline Shane uses on a sales call — SE Wisconsin heating degree days, a 5°F design temperature, and a cold-climate heat pump HSPF rating — so the math reflects reality, not national marketing.
Will a heat pump actually work here?
National heat-pump marketing assumes mild winters. Waukesha County winters don't. This calculator uses the same baseline Shane uses on a sales call — SE Wisconsin heating degree days (7,300 HDD), a 5°F design temperature, and a real cold-climate heat pump rating — to tell you the truth about your house.
The honest answer is usually dual-fuel in SE Wisconsin: heat pump for the shoulder seasons + a gas furnace backup for the deep cold below the break-even temperature. The calculator below reports that break-even for your current fuel.
What heats your home today?
Home built
Used to estimate envelope tightness — older homes lose more heat per sq ft.
Default is the WE Energies winter median. Check your bill for your actual rate.
Furnace · 1 yr
$2,468
natural gas furnace only
Heat pump · 1 yr
$3,469
cold-climate HSPF 10
10-year delta
+$10,012 more
Dual-fuel break-even
55°F
Below this temp, the natural gas furnace is cheaper — so the dual-fuel system flips to the furnace.
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