Cold-climate heat pumps: what you need to know
Updated October 24, 2026
Not all heat pumps are equal below −20 °C. A cold-climate heat pump keeps heating efficiently in deep cold. Here is how to recognize one and what it means for your city.
Heating in deep cold
Kanartic heat pumps are built for Canadian winters: they heat continuously in deep cold and do not shut off below −30 °C. The calculator picks the model whose output covers your heating load at your city’s design temperature.
What it means in your city
| City | Design | System | Coverage | Balance point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | -18 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
| Montreal | -23 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
| Quebec City | -26 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
| Saguenay | -29 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
| Winnipeg | -31 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
| Edmonton | -32 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
| Regina | -32 °C | Z-PRO 27,000 · 2 zones | 100 % | below design |
The balance point is the temperature below which your existing heating must help. In most cities this happens only a few hours a year.
What to check
- ENERGY STAR cold climate: certification requires an efficiency (COP) of at least 1.75 at −15 °C and solid capacity at that temperature. Check the model by its AHRI number on the NRCan list.
- HSPF2: seasonal heating efficiency. The higher it is, the less the heat pump uses over the winter.
- SEER2: cooling efficiency. Kanartic wall units are rated SEER 26.4, 25.0, 23.5, 23.0.
- Operating range: the temperature at which the unit shuts off. Kanartic models keep heating below −30 °C.
Installing for Canadian winters
- Raise the outdoor unit above the snow line, on a wall bracket or ground stand.
- Avoid drips and snow sliding off the roof; a small roof helps.
- Let defrost water drain without freezing over a driveway or walkway.
Frequently asked questions
Does a heat pump work at −30 °C?
A cold-climate heat pump does. Kanartic models keep heating at −30 °C and below.
What is a cold-climate heat pump?
A heat pump designed to keep its output and good efficiency in deep cold. ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification requires a COP of at least 1.75 at −15 °C.
Do I need backup heat?
It is recommended in the coldest regions: your baseboards or furnace take over below the balance point, a few hours a year.
Keep reading
Installing a heat pump yourselfHeat pump vs oil furnaceHeat pump cost in CanadaRebates by province