Introducing American Standard’s Low-Profile Cold Climate Heat Pumps

By Anne Fonda

Electric heat pump systems offer energy-efficient heating and cooling without burning fossil fuels like a furnace. We specialize in air source heat pumps, which extract heat from the air and move it from where it’s not needed to where it is needed during the refrigeration cycle.

The system works one way in the summer and reverses operations in the winter.

Before we get into the details of our new cold climate heat pumps, it’s important to understand a couple of heat pump efficiency ratings: HSPF2 and SEER2.

HSPF2 is short for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. The 2 was tacked on when efficiency requirements changed. HSPF2 measures how effective a heat pump is at heating across an entire heating season. The higher the HSPF2 rating, the better the heat pump is at keeping your home warm in cold temperatures. For a cold climate heat pump, this rating is very important.

SEER2 is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures how effective a heat pump (or AC unit) cools your home across the entire cooling season, in a temperature range of 65°F to 104°F. The higher the SEER2 that a unit has, the better it is at keeping you cool. If you have cold winters and hot summers, you’ll want a cold climate heat pump with a higher SEER2 rating to go along with the higher HSPF2.

A cold climate heat pump (CCHP) is an air source heat pump that is engineered to operate efficiently in temperatures below freezing.

While most traditional heat pumps gradually become less efficient at heating when the temperature is within a few degrees of freezing (32°F), our low-profile cold climate heat pumps are proven to provide 100% of your heat when the outside temperature is as low as 5°F. They can provide 70% of your heating needs down to -13°F.

A low-profile heat pump functions the same as a traditional heat pump to heat and cool your home. The big difference is the appearance.

A low-profile heat pump is typically less boxy than a traditional vertical heat pump, which looks pretty much like a traditional central AC unit. While a typical American Standard heat pump might have height x width x depth measurements of 51” x 34” x 37”, a low-profile unit might have dimensions of approximately 53” x 41” x 15”.

The much thinner depth means they don’t stick out as far from your home, making them ideal for installation in tighter spaces where homes are closer together. Some people also like the sleek look of a low-profile heat pump.

Now, let’s take a look at our newest offerings. They all use multi-speed technology, which adjusts the compressor speed based on outdoor temperatures, working harder when needed and conserving energy on milder days.

The Silver 16 Multi-Speed Low Profile Cold Climate Heat Pump packs a lot of comfort into a sleek package. When paired with the right indoor unit, this CCHP boasts a SEER2 of up to 19 and an HSPF2 of up to 10, making it a great value.

This unit comes in 2, 3, 4, and 5-ton capacities. The 4 and 5-ton units measure 50” x 36” x 14”, and the 2 and 3-ton units measure approximately 38” x 39” x 15”.

This CCHP measures in at 60-62 dBA (decibels), equivalent to the noise level of a normal conversation.

The Gold 17 Multi-Speed Low Profile Heat Pump has a SEER2 of up to 18.5 and HSPF2 of up to 9.1 for year-round comfort.

This CCHP is available in capacities of 2, 3, and 4 tons. Dimensions are approximately 53” high x 42” wide x 15” deep.

This unit registers at 55-62 dBA, or equivalent to the sound ranging from a quiet office to a normal conversation.

The AccuComfort™ Platinum 19 Multi-Speed Low Profile Cold Climate Heat Pump is currently the best cold climate heat pump we offer. Engineered for cold weather, this high-performance, low-profile unit is an excellent heat pump for areas with cold winters and hot summers.

With a SEER2 rating of up to 21 and an HSPF2 of up to 9.2, this cold climate heat pump will keep you comfortable year-round, while potentially helping you save on heating and cooling costs.

This low-profile CCHP is available in capacities of 3, 4, and 5 tons. Dimensions are approximately 53” high x 42” wide x 17” deep.

This CCHP is our quietest heat pump, measuring in at 53-62 dBA, equivalent to a quiet office at low speed to a normal conversation at high speed.

Maybe. How cold do your winters get? Do you have cold snaps that last for days at a time, where the temperature falls below 5°F? If that sounds familiar, you might want to pair your cold climate heat pump with a gas furnace for backup heat. This is called a dual-fuel heat pump system or hybrid heating system.

The CCHP does most of the heating, but when the temperatures drop below 5°F (most likely overnight), the furnace kicks in. When temperatures rise, the CCHP takes over again. Much like a hybrid vehicle, the system chooses the most efficient way to heat at a given time.

If you want to stay with an all-electric heating and cooling system, we also have electric heat kits available that offer auxiliary heat. Your local American Standard dealer can help you decide if you need backup heat and which method would be better for your home, climate, and utility pricing.

Our engineers have decades of experience perfecting heat pump technology. Our goal is to help homeowners like you find the right heat pump system for your heating and cooling needs, whether you’re in the South, the North, or somewhere in between.

At American Standard, we are dedicated to helping homeowners across the country increase their home comfort while saving money on their heating and cooling bills. As a bonus, an electric heat pump system is good for the environment.

Aside from offering cold climate heat pumps and energy-efficient HVAC systems, we use this space to help educate homeowners so you can make an informed decision.

Explore our growing library of heat pump system content.

For even more information, visit our Electrification Hub.

If it’s time to replace your existing HVAC system and your winters are long and cold, we offer some of the best heat pumps for cold climates. They use powerful technology to keep your home warm even in the dead of winter while keeping you cool in the increasingly hot and humid summers.

Contact your local American Standard dealer today to learn more about your options.

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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.

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