Do heat pumps work in Pennsylvania winters?
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Can a heat pump heat a Pennsylvania house?
Yes, if it is chosen for the climate and sized properly. ENERGY STAR says many new certified air-source heat pumps provide space heating even in the coldest climates, using advanced compressors and refrigerants that work better at low temperatures. Where winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, it advises asking your contractor for a model certified for cold climates and discussing back-up heat.
Electricity is already the main heating fuel in 25.3 percent of Pennsylvania's occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's state profile, though that figure includes every kind of electric heat, not only heat pumps.
How does a heat pump heat at all in winter?
It moves heat instead of making it. ENERGY STAR explains that an air-source heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air in winter and brings it inside, then reverses in summer and works as an air conditioner. Because it moves heat rather than converting fuel to heat, it can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electricity it uses.
A ducted heat pump works like a central air conditioner that also runs in reverse. ENERGY STAR says that in most climate zones it can be installed as a drop-in replacement when either a central air conditioner or a furnace needs replacing, using the existing ducts. For houses without ducts, the same technology comes as ductless mini-splits.
What does the cold-climate rating actually promise?
A tested level of performance at 5°F. ENERGY STAR's cold-climate criteria require a heat pump to keep at least 70 percent of its heating capacity at 5°F compared with 47°F, and to have a coefficient of performance (heat delivered divided by electricity used) of at least 1.75 at 5°F. The test has to confirm the unit reaches those figures under its own controls, as it would run in a home.
ENERGY STAR says a cold-climate heat pump keeps working below 5°F, but that pairing it with a back-up energy source heats the home most efficiently when temperatures go lower still. For ducted split systems the cold-climate label also requires a heating rating of at least 8.1 HSPF2, against 7.8 HSPF2 for a standard certified unit.
What is a dual-fuel system?
A heat pump paired with a furnace. ENERGY STAR suggests it if you have a relatively new furnace and an older central air conditioner, or are adding air conditioning to a furnace: install a heat pump instead of the air conditioner for a modest extra cost. The system can then heat with whichever is better suited to the conditions and costs.
If your furnace is gas, it is worth knowing what the alternative looks like. Pennsylvania is in ENERGY STAR's northern region, where a certified gas furnace must reach 97% AFUE or more.
Who benefits most from switching?
ENERGY STAR lists lower energy bills when switching from electric resistance heat, propane or oil to a heat pump. It also names benefits that have nothing to do with the bill: no combustion in the house, so no carbon monoxide from the heating system itself, and no fuel to store or run out of. For homes with radiators and no ducts, it describes ductless mini-splits as an alternative to radiator or baseboard heat, and a replacement for window air conditioners.
How should a heat pump be installed?
With a load calculation and careful commissioning. ENERGY STAR says your contractor should verify the size using Manual J, a calculation of the heating and cooling your home needs, because a system that is too large or too small will struggle. For a heat pump in a cold climate, the contractor should also work out the size and whether back-up heat is needed.
Its quality-installation guidance applies with extra force to heat pumps, because they depend on refrigerant for heating as well as cooling: the contractor should test and adjust the refrigerant charge, set airflow to the manufacturer's specifications and test the ducts for leaks. Anyone connecting gauges or handling the refrigerant must hold EPA Section 608 certification.
How do you run a heat pump efficiently?
ENERGY STAR's tips differ from the habits many people have with furnaces:
- Pick a temperature and leave it. Heat pumps do not save energy by being turned down when you are away or asleep.
- Avoid "Auto" mode, which can switch between heating and cooling on mild days; set it to heat or cool.
- Use the auto fan setting, or the lowest fan speed that spreads the air far enough.
- Clean filters when they look dirty or when the filter light comes on.
- If you have both a heat pump and a furnace or boiler, use the heat pump year-round.
What does a heat pump cost?
National cost surveys give these ranges. Angi reports an average installed price of $6,087, with most homeowners paying $4,236 to $7,942, and puts air-source units at $4,500 to $8,000 and hybrid systems with a furnace or boiler at $2,500 to $10,000. HomeAdvisor gives $4,200 to $7,600 for heat pump installation. Neither publishes a Pennsylvania figure.
The federal tax credit of up to $2,000 for heat pumps is over. ENERGY STAR's tax credit page says the credits were available through December 31, 2025. Some utilities offer their own incentives for certified heat pumps; ask yours before you buy.
More prices are in the cost guide, and how to choose an HVAC contractor covers sizing and bids. Installers are listed on the HVAC contractors directory page.
Sources
- Air-Source Heat Pumps, ENERGY STAR
- Heat Pump Equipment Key Product Criteria, ENERGY STAR
- Ductless Heating & Cooling, ENERGY STAR
- Furnaces Key Product Criteria, ENERGY STAR
- HVAC Quality Installation, ENERGY STAR
- How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace an HVAC System?, HomeAdvisor
- Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency, ENERGY STAR
- Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Narrative Profile: Pennsylvania, U.S. Census Bureau