COLD CLIMATE HEAT PUMPS

Heat pumps provide an exceptionally energy-efficient alternative to boilers, furnaces, and air conditioners.

Outdoor air conditioning units with snow falling

WHY HEAT PUMPS?

  • Multi-task. These heat pumps can provide water heating, heating/cooling for radiant floors, radiators, air handlers, pools and hot tubs! Very adaptable.

  • Energy Source. Our heat pumps use the air (!!) as their energy source! Energy is extracted from the air concentrated for use indoors. Efficient even at -15F!

  • Electrify. We use heat pumps so efficient they can supplement or completely replace gas and electric powered boilers, water heaters, and air conditioners. So, even in our cold Montana climate, natural gas or propane may not be needed.

  • Go Solar. Their amazing efficiency also enables homeowners to offset a heat pump’s modest energy use with solar, resulting in a zero or near-to-zero energy bill.

Liquid Solar Systems is the exclusive Arctic Heat Pump dealer in the Northwest: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington.

Arctic Heat Pumps invests in research and development to ensure they remain a leader in energy efficient hydronic heating and cooling systems. Every Arctic sales agent and dealer undergoes a training with Arctic to ensure proper design for heat pump heating or cooling project

AIR-TO-WATER (A2W) HEAT PUMP BASICS

  • Refrigerant is factory-sealed and limited to the outdoor unit!

  • The energy transfer from the outdoor unit to the inside takes place via a freeze-protected (hydronic) loop.

  • Cold Climate heat rating: -20F

  • Hi efficiency: COP ratings of 1.5 at -15f and 3.2 at 45F outdoor temps.

  • Adaptable to a wide variety of building configurations and many zones/rooms

  • Spaces typically larger than 800 SF

  • Very workable for D-I-Y installers (>30% of our sales)

  • Cost: $10,000 to $40,000+ installed and before any tax credits

Outdoor heat pump unit installed on a wooden house exterior

  • As the ID/MT/OR/WA dealer for Arctic heat pumps,  we chose Arctic because their products, performance, innovation and technical support. Arctic is located in Winnipeg, Canada (where it is colder than Montana!)

    Compared to global HVAC companies like  Fujitsu, they are a small, but ambitious family-owned company and we have very good relationships with their staff.

    That said we are always looking at new products—in fact, the first round of testing with another heat pump brand in 2017 was not so smooth and that is when we switched to Arctic.

  • As of 2025, Arctic heat pumps are more environmentally friendly R-32 refrigerant (replacing R410). This improves their efficiency and lowers their cold Weather rating to -20F.


    Note: All HP systems installed in cold climates (most MT/ID installs)  include a backup heat source.  This is because at extreme cold temperatures their heat output decreases and may not meet 100% of the building's heat demand.

    Backup sources of heat include those fueled by electricity (electric boilers that heat the buffer tank or stand-alone cove heaters);  or in the case of existing homes, pre-existing gas-powered heat boilers can often be used.

    Our design staff can help determine the best back-up heat sources for your project if the install location requires one.

  • The three primary components:

    • Exterior mounted heat pump

    • Buffer tank for thermal storage

    • Hydronic distribution (radiant, radiators etc)

      LEARN MORE

  • Heating or Cooling with our heat pumps utilizes a comfortable, quiet liquid-based distribution system including:

    • radiant floor;

    • panel radiators;

    • hydronic fan coils; and

    • air handlers/low velocity forced air.

    LEARN MORE

    • No! A mini-split is an Air-to-Air (A2A) heat pump.

    • That is, it uses the air as its energy source then blows cool or warm air in the house from a radiator like device.

    • While as efficient to our A2W units, a mini-split is better to suited to smaller spaces (like an Accessory Dwelling Unit).

    LEARN MORE