Map sourced from: climatereanalyzer.org, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine.

Last week, the U.S. experienced widespread (and in many places, unprecedented) cold temperatures, as a massive cold front swept the country. The record-breaking winter storm brought extreme cold, snow and ice and left homeowners with power outages, burst water pipes, property damage and strained HVAC systems in its wake.

Performance is Key

Last week’s weather was unexpected, even in places where snowfall and extreme cold are rare, but not unheard of. As homeowners in typically warmer climates cranked their heating systems to combat the cold, many saw their systems struggling to keep up with the sudden demand.

It’s easy to pin this type of weather event as an anomaly, but consider this: two weeks prior to last week’s cold front, all 50 states saw below freezing temperatures over the span of one day. 235 million Americans felt the effects of a polar vortex that brought discomfort to homeowners nationwide, and left many reconsidering their HVAC systems’ cold-climate performance.

The Heat Pump Difference

While we can’t always predict extreme outdoor conditions and temperature drops, we can choose systems that perform effectively in any climate. A high-performing heat pump system is efficient and has the capacity to provide comfort in extreme temperatures.

Not only are today’s heat pump systems more energy efficient than traditional, fossil-fuel burning systems, they also perform just as well, if not better! In fact, Mitsubishi Electric units equipped with advanced Hyper-Heating INVERTER® (H2i®) compressor technology perform at 100 percent of rated capacity in outdoor ambient temperatures as low as 5° F, with continued performance down to -13° F.

Homeowners in typically warmer climates may not necessarily need to run out and invest in a hyper-heating system, but it’s important to prepare for extremes, no matter your latitude. Don’t get left out in the cold; connect with a Mitsubishi Electric sales representative today to determine the best system for your home and climate zone.

To learn more about our heat pump options, visit mitsubishicomfort.com.