What Are The Best Heat Pumps For Cold Weather?

Learn how to choose the right heat pump model to heat your home in the cold winter months

Heat pumps are an extremely versatile and efficient source of home heating and cooling. While all heat pumps can provide heating for your home, not all are ideal for extremely cold climates.

The winters in Atlantic Canada are among the coldest in the world, and still, heat pumps can operate efficiently during the vast majority of winter days. In this post, we’ll outline what features to evaluate looking for the best heat pump for cold weather. We will also highlight a few of the best Daikin heat pump models for winter performance.

Curious to learn more about how heat pumps work? Learn more about the cost, maintenance, and which type is the best fit for your home.

How To Measure Heat Pump Heating Efficiency

There are several key performance indicators to watch for when evaluating a heat pump’s heating capability–those are HSPF, COP, and rated outdoor temperature.

HSPF

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) is the measure of heat pump efficiency in heating mode. Low temperatures can cause heat pumps to perform with lower efficiency, which is why assessing a heat pump’s HSPF score will show you which units are most efficient during frigid winter days. Keep in mind that the higher the HSPF score, the less it will cost you to operate the heat pump in cooling mode.

COP

The coefficient of performance (COP) describes the amount of heat that a heat pump can produce compared to how much energy has been put in at any given time. For example, if a heat pump has a COP of 5, the pump can produce 5 units of heat for every watt of power used.

Rated Outdoor Temperature

The rated outdoor temperature is the lowest temperature that the heat pump can still provide adequate heating for your home. Heat pumps operate by pulling in heat from the outside air, so as the air outside gets colder, the heat pump must work harder to extract heat from the heat and move it into your home.

While most efficient heat pump models can function efficiently in temperatures as low as -27 degrees celsius, it is a good idea to have a backup heating source for those unusually cold days where a heat pump loses its advantage in heating efficiency.

The Top Daikin Heat Pump Models For Cold Weather

Daikin manufactures several heat pump models designed with the Atlantic Canadian climate in mind. See below for highlights of Daikin’s top heat pump models for winter performance.

Mini Splits

Daikin AURORA™ – Wall Mount

HSPF: 12.5
COP: 4.2
Coverage: 25-900 sq.ft.

Multi-Zone

Daikin EMURA™

HSPF: 12.5
COP: 4.6

Whole-Home

Daikin Dx20VC

HSPF: 10
COP: 6.1