Cold-Climate Heat Pumps: Do You Need One in the Willamette Valley?

Older heat pumps earned a reputation for blowing lukewarm air when it got cold. Modern cold-climate heat pumps changed that. Here's what they are and whether you need one here.

What makes a heat pump cold-climate

Cold-climate heat pumps use variable-speed compressors and better refrigerant systems to keep producing heat as outdoor temperatures drop well below freezing. Many are designed to keep delivering a large share of their rated capacity at single-digit temperatures. Look for models that meet a recognized cold-climate specification, and ask your installer to show the low-temperature capacity data.

How cold does it get here?

Most of the valley spends the winter in the 30s and 40s, which is easy work for any modern heat pump. The challenge is the handful of cold snaps each year, plus east wind events and ice storms that hit Portland's east side and Gresham hardest.

Who should go cold-climate

• Homes in Gresham, Troutdale and East Portland that catch Gorge winds
• Foothill homes around Silverton and the Cascade edge
• Anyone replacing a gas furnace entirely with no backup
• Homes with high heating loads, like older houses with limited insulation

Who can skip it

If you're keeping a gas furnace as dual fuel backup, or you live in a well-insulated home in the central valley, a standard high-efficiency variable-speed heat pump may be plenty. Your load calculation should drive the choice, not a sales pitch.

Backup heat

Most heat pumps have electric backup strips for the coldest hours or defrost. With a cold-climate unit and good sizing, they should rarely run. Here's how backup and emergency heat work.