Cold-climate heat pump installation
Variable-speed models designed to keep heating in deep cold, sized to the home’s heat loss.
Cold-climate heat pumps
Heat Pump Installation & Repair in Chicago
Green Leaf Heating & Cooling connects Chicago homeowners with local technicians for heat pump installation and repair: cold-climate heat pumps that keep heating through a Chicago winter, dual-fuel systems that pair with a gas furnace, and repairs on systems that ice up or stop heating. Call (312) 924-7223.
Cooling in July. Heat in January.
About heat pumps
Do Heat Pumps Work in Chicago? The Short Answer
Yes, if it’s the right kind and the right size. Older heat pumps struggled once temperatures dropped into the 20s. Today’s cold-climate models are built to keep producing useful heat well below freezing and into single digits, which covers most of a Chicago winter.
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In summer it moves heat out of the house; in winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air and moves it in. Because it moves heat rather than burning fuel to make it, it can deliver more heat than the electricity it uses.
For the coldest nights, many Chicago homes choose a dual-fuel system: the heat pump handles most of the season and a gas furnace takes over below a set outdoor temperature. Homes without ducts can use a ductless heat pump instead. A technician will tell you which setup fits the house.
- ✓ Cold-climate heat pumps
- ✓ Dual-fuel with a gas furnace
- ✓ Ducted and ductless systems
- ✓ Heat pump repair
What’s included
Heat Pump Services in Chicago
Installation options and the repairs heat pumps need most.
Dual-fuel systems
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace, with the switch-over temperature set for comfort and running cost.
Ductless heat pumps
Mini split heat pumps for homes with radiators, additions and rooms the main system doesn’t reach.
Not heating in winter
A failed reversing valve, low refrigerant, a defrost problem or thermostat settings that leave it in cooling mode.
Iced-over outdoor unit
Light frost is normal and melts during defrost. A unit encased in ice points to a defrost or airflow problem.
Backup heat running constantly
If the electric backup strips run all the time, the heat pump may be undersized, low on refrigerant or set up wrong.
How it works
How a Heat Pump Installation Works
Heat loss, ductwork, electrical capacity and your current heating system are checked to see which heat pump setup fits.
Ducted, ductless or dual fuel, each sized for the house, with a free estimate. Nothing is ordered until you choose.
The outdoor unit is set on a raised stand clear of drifting snow, the indoor coil or heads go in, and the lines, drain and controls are connected.
The system is tested in heating and cooling, the defrost and backup settings are checked, and you’re shown how to run it.
STEP 01Home assessment
Heat loss, ductwork, electrical capacity and your current heating system are checked to see which heat pump setup fits.
Heat pumps in a cold climate
What Chicago Homeowners Should Know Before Buying a Heat Pump
Cold-climate rating matters
Not every heat pump is built for Chicago. Look for models listed as cold-climate, which are tested to deliver a set level of heat and efficiency at 5°F. Chicago’s coldest days dip below that, which is why sizing and backup heat are part of the conversation.
Backup heat: furnace or electric
A heat pump with an air handler usually has electric resistance strips for backup. In a dual-fuel system, the gas furnace is the backup instead. Gas backup tends to suit homes that already have a working furnace and gas line; all-electric setups suit homes moving away from gas.
Snow and the outdoor unit
Heat pumps defrost themselves several times on cold, damp days, and the meltwater has to drain away. The outdoor unit should sit on a stand above typical snow depth, away from roof drip lines, so it isn’t buried or encased in ice. Read heat pumps in Chicago: do they work below zero? and why a heat pump runs continuously in winter.
Rebates
ComEd and other Illinois programs have offered rebates on qualifying heat pumps. Programs and amounts change, so check the current offers before you decide.
Heat pump FAQ
Heat Pump Questions From Chicago Homeowners
Short answers to what Chicago homeowners ask most before they call.
(312) 924-7223Cold-climate heat pumps keep heating well below freezing. For the coldest days, many homes add backup heat, either electric strips or a gas furnace in a dual-fuel system.
Long run times are normal in cold weather; a variable-speed heat pump is designed to run steadily at low output. Constant running with the house still cold is not, and should be checked.
During a defrost cycle it can briefly blow cooler air. If it lasts, the cause may be a reversing valve, low refrigerant or a thermostat set to cool.
In many homes, yes, with a cold-climate model sized for the house and some form of backup. Others keep the furnace as a dual-fuel backup.
Yes, usually as ductless mini split heat pumps that add cooling and supplement the boiler. See ductless mini splits.
Related services
More Heating and Cooling Services
01Ductless Mini SplitsDuctless heat pumps for homes and rooms without ducts.↗02Furnace InstallationPair a new furnace with a heat pump in a dual-fuel system.↗03AC InstallationReplacing your AC? Compare a heat pump at the same time.↗04AC RepairCooling-side repairs on heat pumps and air conditioners.↗05HVAC MaintenanceYearly heat pump service before both seasons.↗06Indoor Air QualitySmart thermostats set up for heat pump staging.↗
Heat pumps across Chicago
Heat pumps in Your Neighborhood
Ready when you are
Thinking About a Heat Pump in Chicago?
Call (312) 924-7223 for a home assessment and a free estimate on heat pump options, or for heat pump repair.
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