How Heat Pumps Perform in Cold Weather

With winter approaching, some customers are asking about upgrading their older heating system and about their options, such as replacing the existing gas furnace, installing a heat pump, or installing a hybrid heat pump system that combines the benefits of an electric heat pump with those of a gas furnace. You can read about how energy-efficient heat pumps work in general on this previous post.

In North Jersey, we can expect frigid cold snaps in the winter. The good news is, heat pumps perform well in extremely cold weather. In fact, heat pumps are heating around 50% of all homes in Finland, Norway and Sweden, where they know about freezing temperatures. A heat pump can bring indoor temperatures up to 75 degrees when it’s minus 13 degrees outside, so homeowners in northern NJ are assured that a properly sized heat pump will keep their homes comfortable…in all kinds of weather.

NOTE: As with any HVAC system, proper sizing is crucial to enable the unit to deliver the heating and cooling needed for your space. Make sure your HVAC contractor performs the proper measurements to ensure your heat pump system is accurately sized to meet your home’s heating load (the amount of heat transfer in and out of the house).

To heat a home, the heat pump draws heat from outside air into the home. And yes, even super cold air has plenty of heat in it to warm up the house. In cold environments like ours in North Jersey, we recommend installing a cold climate air-source heat pump to keep the house toasty even when temperatures are below zero outside. These units generate a lot of heat from frigid outdoor air while retaining their capacity– the amount of heat (or cold for air conditioning) that the HVAC system can supply to meet the load.

Innovation and advanced technology from Carrier Infinity system heat pumps
Technological advancements have boosted heat pump performance in the coldest regions, where heat is in high and frequent demand.

Last December, we wrote about hybrid heat pump systems, which merge the benefits of an electric heat pump with those of a gas furnace (and deliver both heating and cooling to the home). These dual-fuel systems optimize a home’s comfort and energy efficiency by automatically switching between the heat pump and the furnace based on outdoor temperatures. This function keeps utility costs in line and your home comfortable all year ’round.

In addition to dual-fuel systems, Carrier heat pump models deliver value and performance year ’round with:

• Variable speed compressors that modulate cooling and heating output in precise, incremental levels to maintain your exact desired indoor temperature.
• Bluetooth connectivity for contractor troubleshooting and system software updates.
• Enhanced humidity control for improved indoor air comfort.
• Smaller cabinet sizes and units designed specifically for coastal area installations (we’re looking at you, Jersey Shore!).

At Bloomfield Cooling, Heating & Electric, we install Carrier Infinity® system heat pumps that have up to 24.0 SEER and up to 13.0 HSPF ratings.

• SEER is the acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a measure of air conditioner and heat pump efficiency.
• HSPF stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, which measures the heating efficiency of an air-source heat pump. Any rating over 10 means the heat pump delivers maximum energy reduction, quieter operation, and superior performance in cold winter weather.
• According to Carrier, when compared to a standard efficiency heat pump, the Infinity® 24 2-ton model can save up to $77 a year in cooling and up to $182 a year in heating.

Thinking of updating your heating system? Contact Bloomfield Cooling, Heating & Electric about heat pumps.
Call our office at 973-237-0505 or email info@bloomfieldcooling.com to set up an appointment and learn more about efficient heat pump systems.