The balance point is the outdoor temperature at which a heat pump’s heating capacity exactly matches your home’s heat loss rate. Above the balance point, the heat pump handles 100% of demand. Below it, supplemental backup heat (electric resistance strips or a gas furnace in dual-fuel mode) kicks in to make up the difference.
Why this matters
The balance point depends on three things:
- Your home’s heating load (Manual J output)
- The heat pump’s capacity at various outdoor temperatures
- How the system is sized (oversize the heat pump, lower the balance point)
For most Colorado dual-fuel installs, we target a balance point around 20-30°F. The heat pump handles all heating hours above that, the furnace takes over below. That split typically results in the heat pump doing 80-90% of the season’s heating work at 250-400% efficiency.
“Economic” vs. “thermal” balance point
The thermal balance point is when capacity equals load. The economic balance point is when operating costs of heat pump vs. backup furnace cross over — usually a few degrees colder. Modern smart thermostats can be configured for either.
Related: Dual-Fuel, Heat Pump, Cold-Climate Heat Pump, Manual J.
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Right Way Mechanical is a family-owned HVAC contractor serving Wheat Ridge, Arvada, west Denver, and the Colorado foothills.