In this short YouTube segment, Derek Cole and William Skipper discuss common misconceptions about heat pumps in freezing temperatures. They explain that heat pumps continue to produce heat below 32 °F, albeit at reduced capacity, and that turning them off in cold weather is unnecessary and wasteful. The conversation highlights the importance of allowing the heat pump to run, using electric heat strips only when needed, and understanding that defrost cycles become more frequent as outdoor temperatures drop. By keeping the heat pump active and limiting heat‑strip operation, homeowners can maintain comfort while saving on utility bills.
Freezing temperatures and your heat pump.
So William, should I turn my heat pump off when it's 32 degrees outside? No, um, that is a misconception that a lot of people have, is they hear people talk about heat pumps no good below freezing. Well, a heat pump still will produce heat below freezing, just not the capacity that it normally would above freezing. So the worst thing on a light bill is your electric heat strips. If you can prolong or cut back the time that you use your heat strips, why wouldn't you? If you've got a source, even though I might have a 3-ton unit and I'm below 30 degrees outside or 20 degrees and I'm putting out half of what it normally would because of the temperatures, why would I not want to limit my heat strips coming on? But a heat pump will produce heat on those cold days. So stay away from that fairy tale of once it gets below freezing, I'm gonna turn my emergency heat on and that's all I'm gonna run. Let that heat pump run. Let it cycle those heat strips on when needed, and let's save a little bit on your utilities.
Yeah, and it's gonna— I mean, the main thing is gonna happen a lot more, it's gonna go through a defrost cycle, correct? More than if it was 45 degrees outside. And that's completely normal. I mean, you shouldn't worry about the heat pump and is it working too hard, you know, it's a heat pump. It's equipment, it's made to work. That's right. Uh, so there's nothing abnormal about it going into defrost and the heat strip is coming on. There's— it's completely fine. You're going to be fine. So yeah, like he said, do not turn off the heat pump just because it's 30 degrees outside. That's right.
