Central Florida gets 30–50 nights a year below 45°F. That's the entire question — is it enough cold to justify a heat pump?
The cost difference
- —Straight-cool + 10kW heat strip: ~$8,500 installed (3-ton)
- —Heat pump same tonnage: ~$10,000 installed
- —Operating cost on a 40°F night: heat pump uses ~1/3 the kWh of strip heat
When strip heat actually wins
Vacation rentals, garages, and additions used <10 days/year of heat. The lower equipment cost beats the efficiency gain.
Frequently asked
Quick answers, straight up.
Do heat pumps work below freezing?
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Modern inverter heat pumps work down to 5°F. Florida never sees temperatures where a heat pump can't keep up.
