An independent reference on cold-climate heating

PineWindowHouse documents how air-source heat pumps behave in Canadian winters, in plain language and without a sales agenda.

PineWindowHouse began as a set of notes collected while trying to make sense of conflicting claims about heat pumps in cold weather. Spec sheets list capacities at temperatures that are rarely explained, and general guides often skip the detail that matters most once the temperature drops below freezing.

What this site covers

The focus is narrow on purpose: cold-climate air-source heat pump performance, sizing, and the operating behaviours that affect comfort and running cost in low temperatures. Each article is written to stand on its own while linking to the others where the topics connect.

How the content is prepared

Explanations are built from publicly available technical references, including guidance from Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy. Where exact figures vary by model or region, the text uses neutral descriptions rather than inventing numbers.

What this site is not

PineWindowHouse does not sell, install, or service equipment, and it is not affiliated with any manufacturer. It is an informational reference, and decisions about a specific home should be confirmed with a licensed HVAC professional.

Heat pump unit mounted on an exterior wall
Wall-mounted outdoor unit. Photographs on this site come from Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Editorial contact: editor@pinewindowhouse.org. PineWindowHouse is an independent informational reference and provides general information only.