Will I still need my boiler or furnace?
For whole-house projects, we keep the existing boiler or furnace as backup. It is set to come on only when the heat pumps cannot keep up.
Bangor cold snaps
Will it keep up when it gets cold?
Yes, with an honest design and a backup plan built for your house.
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Start with the temperatures that matter here
Bangor’s design temperature is about -7°F. Most winters also bring a few nights around -15°F to -20°F. The cold-climate systems we install provide their full rated heat to 5°F and continue heating, at lower output, between -15°F and -22°F depending on the model.
That does not mean one model works for every room. It means we do the math before we recommend equipment.
Your quote shows the comparison
We perform a room-by-room Manual J heat-loss calculation instead of guessing by square footage. Then we show each unit’s output at 5°F and at -15°F next to what that room loses at -7°F.
For whole-house projects, we keep the existing boiler or furnace as backup. It is set to come on only when the heat pumps cannot keep up.
Snow, ice, and defrost are part of the plan
Outdoor units sit on stands 18 to 24 inches above the ground and away from roof drip lines, so snow and ice do not bury them.
From our own installs, heat pumps carry most homes down to about 0°F. The backup covers the rest.
Room-by-room planning
What your quote shows: an example from a ranch in Brewer
| Room | Heat loss at -7°F | Unit output at 5°F | Unit output at -15°F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room | 8,400 BTU per hour | 12,000 | 8,900 |
| Kitchen and dining | 6,900 | 10,000 | 7,300 |
| Room over the garage | 5,600 | 9,000 | 6,400 |
Every house is different, so your numbers will be too. When a room needs more than its unit can give, usually somewhere below 0°F, the boiler or furnace comes on and covers the difference.
A normal winter moment
Steam during defrost is expected.
In damp cold, the outdoor unit pauses and steams for a few minutes. It is a normal part of keeping the system working efficiently.
Plain answers
Cold snap questions
What happens at -20°F?
Cold-climate systems continue heating at lower output between -15°F and -22°F, depending on the model. From our own installs, heat pumps carry most homes down to about 0°F, and the backup covers the rest.
Why is my outdoor unit steaming?
In damp cold, the outdoor unit pauses and steams for a few minutes during defrost. That is normal.
Will snow bury the outdoor unit?
Outdoor units sit on stands 18 to 24 inches above the ground and away from roof drip lines, so snow and ice do not bury them.
Can you size it from square footage?
No. We perform a room-by-room Manual J heat-loss calculation instead of guessing by square footage.
What if it stops working in January?
November through March, customers whose heat pump stops get a call back the same day, seven days a week. Call (207) 555-0167.