What size heat pump do I need for a waterfront cottage?
Choosing the right heat pump size and brand for a waterfront property requires balancing reliability with unique conditions like high wind and intermittent use. Oversizing or undersizing units, such as putting an 18k head in a 500 square foot loft, complicates quick warm-ups and leaves owners stuck trying to compare brands like Trane, Carrier, Rheem, and Goodman.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1relying on propane as backup heat
- 2consulting forum opinions and reputable installers
- 3Looking into multi-unit setups for multiple stories
- 4Considering floor plans rather than just square footage
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Looking for opinions on two heat pump quotes for a windy waterfront cottage in Ontario.”source ↗
“I'm mainly interested in reliability and longevity. Does an 18k head seem too large for a 500 sq ft loft, or does the intermittent use and need for quick warm-up change the sizing discussion?”source ↗
“I’m planning to get a new HVAC system installed and I wanted to check which brand would be the best to go with: Trane, Carrier, Rheem, or Goodman? Also, what size unit should we be aim for?”source ↗
Where this came up
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