HVAC Troubleshooting

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At What Temperature Do Heat Pumps Stop Working?

It’s a myth that heat pumps don’t work in cold weather. Electric heat pumps can become less efficient at heating when the temperature drops below freezing, and most traditional heat pumps won’t operate at all much below 0°F

When do heat pumps lose efficiency?

It depends on the energy efficiency that’s built into the heat pump. Air source heat pump technology has come a long way in the last 10-15 years. Variable speed and multi-speed, inverter-driven heat pumps boost capacity in low ambient temperatures.

In general, today’s most efficient traditional heat pumps can provide 100% heating capacity down to around 32°F and then may start losing heating efficiency. If cold-weather performance is important to you, look for a higher Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF2) rating.

When well-maintained and paired with the right indoor unit, electric heat pumps can be up to 300% efficient, meaning they produce up to 3 times more heat energy or cooling energy than they use to operate.

Cold climate heat pumps or a hybrid heating system offer solutions

If you live in an area with cold, harsh winters, you can still have an energy-efficient and sustainable heat pump system. You’ll just want to opt for a system that can handle frigid temperatures.

A cold climate heat pump (CCHP) is a special type of heat pump that can offer 100% heating efficiency at extremely low temperatures (down to 5°F), which may be your best option. You can also opt for a dual fuel system where you pair an electric heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump heats for most of the fall and winter, but the furnace kicks in when the heat pump's efficiency starts to decline.

Trane heat pumps and cold weather performance

In our continuing quest to help our customers lower their carbon footprints by embracing the electrification of heat, Trane continues to innovate and bring new heat pump offerings to homeowners.

Our new cold climate heat pump should be available in the spring of 2026. As for our current offerings, the best-performing heat pump in cold weather in our current product lineup is the 20 TruComfort™ Variable Speed Heat Pump with WeatherGuard™.

It’s our top-tier heat pump, and the variable -speed compressor means it can heat your home at temperatures as low as 5° F. This heat pump is tested to provide a 70% heating capacity ratio at 5° F and delivers 100% heating capacity down to 32° F. Depending on your winters, you may want to pair this heat pump with a gas furnace as backup.

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Anne Fonda, Content Writer at Trane Technologies

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

Expert review by Chelsea Hudson, Product Manager, Ducted Variable Speed Outdoor