Wisconsin has strong propane usage in rural areas. Modern cold-climate heat pumps deliver reliable heat and lower operating costs than propane for most homes.
🔥 Size Your Heat Pump & See Your Annual Fuel Savings
Find the heat pump tonnage your home needs (heating + cooling load from area, climate, and insulation) and estimate annual fuel savings compared to your current Natural Gas, Propane, Heating Oil, or Electric Resistance system. Built on ACCA Manual J residential heating-load figures and real-world COP (Coefficient of Performance) values.
1. Home & climate parameters
These determine your home's heating load and the recommended heat pump tonnage. Sized using ACCA Manual J factors for an 8-ft ceiling home.
2. Your current heating fuel
Pick your current fuel and the rate your utility charges. The annual bill is optional: leave it blank to use the modeled estimate from your home size and climate above, or enter your real 12-month total to calibrate the estimate to your actual home. Defaults are US national averages.
3. Heat pump efficiency & electricity rate
Cold-climate heat pumps maintain high COP down to -15°C / 5°F and qualify for higher rebates (IRA 25C, Canada GREA). Standard inverter heat pumps are cheaper upfront but lose efficiency below 0°C / 32°F.
✓Recommended system & savings
📊Compare every fuel (with your settings)
Same home, same climate, same heating load — but using the default rate for each fuel. Best row = lowest annual heat-pump bill after switching from that fuel.
| Current fuel | Default rate | Annual HP bill | Net savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas Furnace | $1.20 / therm | — | — |
| Propane (LPG) | $3.50 / gallon | — | — |
| Heating Oil | $4.50 / gallon | — | — |
| Electric Resistance | $0.15 / kWh | — | — |
📤Save & share
Heat Pump vs Propane in Wisconsin: What You Could Save
At Wisconsin’s typical propane price of about $2.20/gallon and an electricity rate near 20¢/kWh, here’s how the annual heating cost compares for a representative Wisconsin home (~65 MMBTU/yr heating load, cold-climate heat pump at COP 3.8). Use the calculator above with your home size and real bill for an exact figure.
| Heating system | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|
| Propane furnace (~836 gallons/yr @ $2.20) | ~$1,839/yr |
| Cold-climate heat pump (~5,013 kWh/yr @ 20¢) | ~$988/yr |
| Estimated annual saving | ~$851/yr |
Figures are illustrative and depend on your home’s insulation, size, and actual usage — the interactive calculator personalizes all of this.
Cold-Climate Heat Pump Performance in Wisconsin
The old myth that “heat pumps don’t work in the cold” no longer holds. Modern cold-climate air-source heat pumps (ccASHPs) are rated to deliver their full heating output down to -13°F / -25°C and keep producing usable heat below that, thanks to variable-speed inverter compressors and enhanced-vapor-injection technology. In Wisconsin’s climate (Milwaukee and colder inland areas), the standard approach is to size the heat pump to carry 80–90% of the heating season and keep your existing propane system as automatic backup for the few deepest-cold nights — capturing nearly all the savings while keeping a safety margin.
Rebates & Incentives for Wisconsin Homeowners
Focus on Energy — Wisconsin’s statewide efficiency program — offers heat pump rebates, stacking with the 30% federal 25C tax credit.
Because heat pumps also provide efficient air conditioning in summer, many Wisconsin homeowners effectively get whole-home cooling as a free bonus when they switch for heating savings.
Frequently Asked Questions — Wisconsin
Heat pump performance in Wisconsin winters Wisconsin’s strong propane-heating population sees typical savings of $700–$1,300/yr switching to a cold-climate heat pump at current propane and electric rates.
Cost comparison: propane vs heat pump Cold-climate heat pumps rated to -13°F perform well through Wisconsin winters; Focus on Energy requires cold-climate-rated equipment for its rebates.
Focus on Energy or utility rebates Focus on Energy rebates plus the federal tax credit are the main incentives available to Wisconsin homeowners.
Related: refrigeration cycle diagram and parts.
Estimates vary by contractor. Compare free quotes from licensed local pros before you commit. Request a quote →
High-efficiency systems may qualify for utility rebates and federal or state incentives. Find current programs at ENERGY STAR & DSIRE.
Figures are reviewed by the Refcon HVAC engineering team using U.S. DOE, ENERGY STAR & ACCA Manual J data. Estimates only — confirm with a licensed pro.