Meet Our Most Efficient Cold Climate Heat Pump
Key takeaways:
• The AccuComfort™ Variable Speed Platinum 20 Cold Climate Heat Pump with All Weather® has years of research and testing built in.
• Depending on size, it can deliver 100% to 107% of rated heating capacity at 5°F and still provide substantial capacity at -20°F.
• It will keep your northern home cool and comfortable during summer, too.
By Anne Fonda
Engineered to provide reliable, efficient heating in extreme cold
Cold climate heat pumps (CCHPs) are specially designed to perform in cold climates. The AccuComfort™ Variable Speed Platinum 20 Cold Climate Heat Pump with All Weather® has been in development for years, starting with a prototype in the Department of Energy (DOE) Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge. It’s the latest offering designed to bring energy-efficient heat pump heating and cooling to all corners of the United States.
In this article, you’ll learn about:
We recently chatted with the product manager and some of the engineers behind this new CCHP in a question-and-answer session. They know this product inside and out and gave us detailed answers. If you’re interested in a high-efficiency cold-climate heat pump system to help you efficiently heat and cool your northern home, it’s well worth the read.
Let’s get started.
Why is this heat pump for cold climates a game changer?
“This CCHP is a prime example of innovation and challenging what’s possible. Engineering was asked to deliver a product that performs in a way that none of our other heat pumps have performed before, achieving 100% of the rated 47°F capacity at an outdoor ambient temperature of 5°F, and maintaining heat pump operation down to -20°F,” said Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez, Senior Engineer, New Product Development.
“This has driven the development of proprietary control algorithms, refrigeration cycle modifications, and extended diagnostic capability, all uniquely innovated to support reliable and efficient cold climate heat pump operation that can keep customers warm in harsh, low winter temperatures.”
- Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez, Senior Engineer, New Product Development
Some highlights:
- It keeps producing meaningful heat when temperatures drop well below freezing
- It can continue operating down to -20°F
- Depending on size, it can deliver 100% to 107% of rated heating capacity at 5°F and still provide substantial capacity at -20°F
How long did it take to develop this new CCHP?
The Trane Technologies engineering teams began with a new technology project (NTP) in 2021 to support new product development and to produce a prototype to enter into the Department of Energy (DOE) Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge.
Trane Technologies' prototype exceeded the challenge specifications of operating down to -15°F and stayed online at -23°F.
Ray Rite, Principal Engineer for the Advanced Technology team, led the NTP project and gives us a timeline.
- The CCHP DOE Challenge kicked off in November of 2021, and we completed the prototype design and tested it in-house in the first quarter of 2022.
- Performance was independently confirmed at Oak Ridge National Labs in November of 2022.
- A field trial in Boise, Idaho, began in December 2022 and ran until July 2024 with no major issues.
- With the learnings of the NTP, the new product development (NPD) phase kicked off in 2023 and has been full force.
“We took the prototype and continued to innovate on the design as we considered serviceability, manufacturability, and expanded product requirements. In these past couple of years, we have been designing and validating the CCHP through extreme low ambient and frost testing in our labs, as well as field trial testing in locations with negative temperatures, icy winters, and heavy snowfall.”
- Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez, Senior Engineer, New Product Development
Where did you do the cold climate heat pump field trial testing?
Units were field-tested at the homes of Trane Technologies employees and in-network dealer partners to allow our engineering teams full access to real-world data to inform product development decisions.
- 9 units were placed in the field in Minnesota, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas
- Field trials have ran for 2 winters and just finished up the second summer
- 36,900+ hrs. runtime (18,300+ heating mode)
- Minimum ambient temperatures range from -21° F to 5° F
Notable field trial successes during the January 2026 cold front
- 5A5V0X60A1: heating mode operation meeting customer setpoint, with no supplemental heat as low as -21° F in La Crosse, WI, with a 30-degree delta between return and supply air temperature
- 5A5V0X61A1: heating mode operation meeting customer setpoint, with no supplemental heat as low as -10° F in La Crosse, WI (after -10°F, the heat pump stayed online providing heating capacity, but supplemental heat also kicked on)
“Even in harsh Wisconsin winters, this cold climate heat pump operates at temperatures below -20° F without requiring electric backup heating—very impressive!”
- Keith Novak, Compressor Engineer IV, Corporate Engineering
Another Trane Technologies employee was impressed that the compressor continued to run to provide the primary source of heat, with no loss of comfort, even when temperatures fell below -13°F. As a bonus, they also noticed fewer problems with dry skin and chapped lips versus their old natural gas furnace. They had previously had a gas furnace system but converted to a fully electric system with the CCHP and an air handler.
In layman’s terms, explain why the higher nominal heating capacity vs cooling capacity matters.
“Simply put, locations that have a high heating load tend to have a lower cooling load. Meaning, you either have harsh winters with extremely low temperatures for an extended amount of time, or harsh summers with high temperatures for an extended amount of time,” Valbuena Sanchez said.
“We developed this CCHP specifically for colder regions, with a heating-focused design that allows it to deliver strong heat output at very low outdoor temperatures. That means it keeps producing meaningful heat when temperatures drop well below freezing.”
- Chelsea Hudson, Product Manager, Heat Pumps and System Ratings
“Depending on size, it can deliver 100% to 107% of rated heating capacity at 5°F and still provide substantial capacity at -20°F.
That matters because homeowners in cold climates do not want a system that gives up when winter gets serious. They want comfort, confidence, and lower reliance on supplemental heat. That is exactly what this product was built to do,” Hudson added.
What heat pump sizes are available?
The AccuComfort™ Variable Speed Platinum 20 Cold Climate Heat Pump with All Weather® is available in 3 standard capacities: 3-ton, 4-ton, and 5-ton.
| Named Tonnage Size | Rated* 95°F Cooling | Rated* 47°F Heating | Rated* 5°F Heating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCHP Model# 5A5V0X36A1000A | 3T | 26,200 | 33,200 | 35,600 |
| CCHP Model# 5A5V0X48A1000A | 4T | 36,000 | 45,000 | 45,000 |
| CCHP Model# 5A5V0X60A1000A | 5T | 48,500 | 55,000 | 48,000 |
| CCHP Model# 5A5V0X61A1000A | 5T | 48,000 | 55,500 | 55,500 |
Cooling
Heating
Heating
5A5V0X36A1000A
5A5V0X48A1000A
5A5V0X60A1000A
5A5V0X61A1000A
How well does this cold climate heat pump work in extreme cold?
Really well. Based on years of psychrometric chamber testing, the following table shows proven results. The percentages below are the capacity at the displayed temperature over the rated capacity at 47°F (also known as the nominal heating capacity).
Delivered* Capacity at Extreme Low Ambient Temps
| 5°F | 0°F | -5°F | -10°F | -15°F | -20°F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCHP X36 | 107% | 105% | 101% | 97% | 91% | 85% |
| CCHP X48 | 100% | 95% | 88% | 81% | 73% | 67% |
| CCHP X60 | 87% | 76% | 70% | 64% | 60% | 53% |
| CCHP X61 | 100% | 99% | 92% | 86% | 76% | 70% |
Keep in mind that older generation heat pumps typically start to drop below 100% heating capacity at 35°F.
Where is this cold climate heat pump best suited?
Valbuena Sanchez says: “The full operating range of the CCHP is -20°F to 115°F. That said, the CCHP is best suited in climates where the heating load exceeds the cooling load. The key is to ensure that the dealer appropriately evaluates the heating and cooling load of the home and sizes the CCHP correctly.”
Appropriate areas could include:
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
It could also be a good fit for homes in parts of these states:
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- South Dakota
- Idaho
- Colorado
- Iowa
Should I pair the CCHP with a furnace as a backup, or is an air handler right for my home?
“The answer to this question is homeowner-dependent. You may consider the cost of utilities in your area, and your personal preference on gas versus electric usage, given considerations like product emissions. That said, if the question is ‘can this CCHP, paired with an air handler, support my home's heating load and keep me warm?’ - the answer is yes.”
- Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez, Senior Engineer, New Product Development
Hudson has some tips on choosing between an all-electric heating and cooling system and a dual-fuel heat pump system. “In a dual-fuel or hybrid setup, the heat pump handles most of the heating season efficiently, and a furnace provides backup heat only when it makes the most sense based on outdoor temperature, system demand, or energy costs.”
An all-electric pairing may be a strong choice when:
- You want an electric heating solution
- Electric rates are favorable
- Your home is well insulated, and the system is properly sized
- You are comfortable using electric supplemental heat only when needed
A dual fuel system may be especially attractive when:
- Winter temperatures regularly fall below 5°F
- You want the flexibility of combining electric heat pump performance with furnace backup
- Local fuel prices make a hybrid approach more economical at certain temperatures
- Your home already has fuel infrastructure in place, such as natural gas or propane
Is there anything else homeowners should know?
From Hudson: Yes, a few things.
“First, homeowners should know that cold climate heat pumps are not the same as older-generation heat pumps. This CCHP was engineered specifically for cold-weather performance, and that distinction matters.
Second, homeowners should know that proper system design is everything. Even the best cold climate heat pump needs to be matched and sized correctly for the home. That includes load calculations, ductwork evaluation, controls, and pairing with the right indoor unit.
Third, homeowners should know that this product is about more than just surviving the latest Arctic blast. It is also about:
- More consistent comfort
- Less dependence on supplemental heat
- A more modern heating and cooling experience
And finally, I would say this directly:
I understand why some homeowners are skeptical. For many people, gas furnaces and electric resistance heat are what they know. But we designed this product specifically for harsh winter climates, and both our lab and field testing show that it can deliver the comfort cold-climate homeowners need.”
Contact your local American Standard dealer today
Have we piqued your interest? Reach out today to schedule a home assessment and CCHP system consultation. Your American Standard HVAC pro will ask about your current system’s issues (if any), assess your ductwork, sealing and insulation, perform load calculations, and discuss your options with you.
Be sure to ask about 0% HVAC financing, which can help you spread the cost of a new HVAC system across several years.
Anne Fonda, Content Writer
A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.
She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.
When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.
Expert review by Chelsea Hudson, Product Manager, Heat Pumps and System Ratings; Yisarai Valbuena Sanchez, Senior Engineer, New Product Development; Ray Rite, Principal Engineer
Related articles
