Cold Climate Performance

Rated against actual capacity at 5°F, which is the number that matters.

5 articles

• Heating a Whole House With Ductless — What It Takes and Where It Fails

  Ductless heating works well for a whole house, and the number of heads is decided by the doors, not by the floor area.

• Replacing Electric Baseboard With Ductless — The Clearest Case There Is

  Of all the arguments for a heat pump, this is the one that does not depend on local fuel prices.

• Mini-Splits in Cold Weather — Reading the Capacity Table, Not the Nameplate

  The rating on the box is measured at 47°F. What matters in a northern winter is the figure at 5°F, and it is in a different document.

• Defrost — Why the Outdoor Unit Steams and the Head Blows Cool

  The outdoor unit is steaming, the fan has stopped and the head is blowing cool air. All three are the same event.

• Mini Split Blowing Cold Air in Heat Mode — Defrost, Usually

  Every air-source heat pump does this. Knowing what a defrost cycle looks like is the difference between waiting ten minutes and calling somebody out.