Why Heat Pumps Struggle When It Gets REALLY Cold
This is one of the most common questions I hear every winter: “My heat pump worked great… until it got really cold. Is something wrong?” Short answer: Probably not. Long answer (the useful one 👇): A heat pump doesn’t create heat like a gas furnace does. It moves heat from outside to inside. Even when it’s cold, there is heat outside — but as outdoor temperatures drop, there’s less heat available to move, and the system has to work harder to keep up. Here’s what happens as temperatures fall: - The heat pump’s capacity drops - It runs longer cycles - Eventually, it may need help from auxiliary (backup) heat That auxiliary heat isn’t a failure. It’s a designed safety net to maintain comfort when conditions exceed what the heat pump alone can handle. What is worth paying attention to: - Aux heat running constantly in mild cold - Large temperature swings indoors - Comfort issues even when outdoor temps are moderate Those can point to airflow issues, sizing problems, thermostat setup, or system design — not automatically a “bad heat pump.” This is why context matters. And why blanket advice from Google at 2am usually causes more stress than clarity. 👇 Drop your question below: - What temperature does your system seem to struggle at? - Do you see “Aux” or “Emergency Heat” on your thermostat? - What doesn’t make sense about how your system behaves? Remember: If you’re confused, you’re not behind — you’re just under-explained. Your home. Your system. Your knowledge.