It was really cold last night. Questions were asked by people on local social media pages about why some of their newly installed heat pumps have turned into paper weights in the cold. With information overload online, customers are often not informed that what is MOST important above and beyond any brand recognition are heat pump specs and warranties.
When comparing quotes, don’t put faith in ‘I heard that was a good brand’. Most brands have varying models of heat pumps that perform differently in the cold. There are some that will really only work for air conditioning. Also, for those who currently have older heat pumps, many were only rated to -10 and did not contain pan heaters in them to prevent them from freezing up. Luckily, technology has come a long way in the past years to not only increase the efficiency of heat pumps, but also their deep cold ratings.
ALWAYS compare apples to apples by looking at cold ratings and warranty. If a company gives you a quote that is not transparent in presenting those items- Ask for that information in writing. In Canada a -30 rated heat pump will be very reliable and efficient on those cold winter days.
Additionally, having a warranty that is transferable (not common in the industry) is a real plus. This means that if you ever sell your home, the new homeowners will be able to assume the warranty. Parts for heat pumps are expensive, so it goes without saying that a longer warranty will ensure that as a unit gets older, you can have parts replaced if needed.
We sell GREE heat pumps- We love their price point, efficiency, deep cold ratings and warranty. We like to quote deep cold -30 rated heat pumps because we live in Canada, and to us it makes sense to sell a unit that will work in all temperatures.
This isn’t to say that we don’t think other brands carry great heat pumps as well. Just be weary of buying a specific advertised brand for a deal. If you’re offered a ‘too good to be true’ deal on a specific brand of heat pump, it’s advisable to dig a little deeper into the specs on your quote so you’re not left in the cold.
