Menoken is a small unincorporated community in Burleigh County, roughly 11 miles east of Bismarck. The Census Bureau counts it as a place of about 100 residents and around 40 occupied homes, so its survey figures carry wide margins. Still, the pattern is clear and typical of rural Burleigh County: propane is king.
Propane first
About 82% of households heat with propane, 12% with natural gas, and only a couple percent with electricity. A propane furnace burning through a long North Dakota winter is a real expense, and that's what drives local interest in heat pumps.
Can a heat pump work this far north?
Cold-climate heat pumps keep producing heat well below freezing, but output falls as temperatures plunge. Around Bismarck, below-zero nights are part of every winter. That's why most rural homeowners here look at dual-fuel: the heat pump carries spring, fall, and milder winter days, and a propane-capable furnace takes over in deep cold.
Weighing the options
- Propane furnace only: simplest swap, highest fuel use.
- Dual-fuel: cuts propane deliveries; requires an outdoor unit, refrigerant lines, and a compatible thermostat.
- All-electric: possible, but the backup heat strips would carry the coldest weeks; check the electrical service size first.
Manufactured homes
Census data puts manufactured homes at roughly one in six residences here. Those require equipment approved for manufactured housing, typically a downflow furnace feeding a floor trunk.
Our role
Furnace Direct, a DBA of Hamlin Mechanical LLC, ships furnaces and heat pumps without dealer markup. Our Bismarck hub coordinates a licensed installer for Burleigh County homes.
Timing and next steps
With a median build year of 1983, many original furnaces are past their prime. Book in late summer before propane season starts. Have your tank size and furnace model handy, then Call for Pricing: (888) 762-1334.
Small-area estimates (wide margins of error): Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year.
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