Optimizing Cold Climate Heat Pump Performance: Design, Sizing and Equipment Selection

Both contractors and customers share the goal of installing heat pump systems that deliver reliable, comfortable, and cost-effective heating and cooling. However, the current metrics used to evaluate performance often fail to represent real-world conditions. The discrepancy between these ratings and actual performance can result in significantly higher operating costs—ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars annually for customers.

For contractors, evaluating heat pump options can be challenging. Fortunately, tools are available to support more informed decisions. This session will guide installers on leveraging tools to evaluate equipment for individual homes and assess the performance of frequently installed systems. With these resources, contractors can ensure heat pumps modulate effectively year-round, ramp down during low-load conditions, and provide maximum comfort for customers.

The workshop will begin with foundational topics--system types, distribution types and layouts, auxiliary electric heat and backup heat strategies-- then move into design, sizing, and equipment selection. Participants will explore how efficiency ratings are calculated, including seasonal and minimum capacity COPs. We’ll address key concepts like proper sizing, maintaining low-temperature capacity, short cycling, and minimum capacity limitations. The session concludes with an interactive case study and marketplace observations to apply what attendees have learned.