13d • General discussion
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.
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Why Heat Pumps Struggle When It Gets REALLY Cold
