Electric Heat Pumps are Struggling in the Cold...

You know just how nasty New England winters can be, but did you know that some heating systems work much better in the cold than others?

Electric Heat Pumps are Struggling in the Cold…

 

What’s the issue?

 

Although heat pumps may be a useful source of cooling during the summer, the heating mode doesn’t work as intended in colder climates. This is because the heating mode of heat pumps works by extracting heat from the outside air and transferring it into your home, which is harder to do as temperatures drop. Once the outdoor temperature drops below 40°F, heat pumps struggle to pull in a useful amount of heat, causing them to consume a lot more energy and drop in efficiency. In cases of extreme cold (20°F and below), the outdoor condensing unit can and will freeze over, obstructing airflow and preventing heat absorption across the coils. In other words, a frozen condensing unit doesn’t allow the system to transfer any heat to the indoor unit, leaving the system inoperable until the condenser coil thaws out. 

 

What’s our solution?

 

As your trusted heating and cooling provider, we recommend that you only use heat pumps for A/C or as a secondary source of heat in your home, the main reason being that heat pumps simply can’t keep up with the cold. Traditional heating systems operate much more reliably in freezing conditions and provide a more consistent amount of heat across your home, keeping your whole family warm. Thank you and we hope that this information was helpful for you!