What Is an Inverter Heat Pump?

By Anne Fonda

An inverter heat pump is a heat pump with a variable-speed compressor that runs longer – even continuously – at lower speeds to provide consistent home comfort and optimal energy efficiency.  This includes our variable-speed heat pumps and multi-speed heat pumps as well as mini-splits. 

Inverter technology eliminates the energy-wasting start and stop cycle of a single-stage unit or even a two-stage unit. A variable-speed, inverter-driven heat pump may run longer, but at lower speeds. They use the minimum amount of energy needed to maintain your desired temperature and provide humidity control. This results in reduced energy usage and increased energy savings.

Inverter heat pumps can operate between 30%-100% capacity depending on the difference between your home’s ambient temperature and the temperature you set on the thermostat.

The inverter technology is what makes our variable-speed and multi-speed ducted heat pumps and our ductless mini-split systems so efficient, especially at heating. With inverter-driven heat pumps, during low ambient temperatures, we can boost heating capacity by overspeeding the compressor.

Paired with the right indoor unit air handler or gas furnace, our variable-speed and multi-speed heat pumps are more efficient at heating in cold temperatures, delivering 100% heating capacity down to around 27° F and 70% down to about 5° F.

In our ductless systems, this is called Pro-Heat INVERTER technology.  Even in outside temperatures as low as -13° F, Pro-Heat INVERTER technology will keep your home warm. Pro-Heat Plus technology can provide 100% heating capacity down to -5° F outdoor ambient temperatures.

We’re taking this technology even further with our ducted cold climate heat pump (CCHP), which is in development now. It’s expected to produce 100% heating capacity down to 5° F and will keep working down to -20° F.

There may be some confusion when it comes to variable speed. A variable-speed compressor is quite different from a variable-speed blower.

A variable-speed compressor is part of your outdoor unit, whether a traditional split-system heat pump or ductless mini-split heat pump.

A variable-speed blower motor is part of your indoor unit (air handler or furnace). Variable-speed blowers force conditioned air through your ductwork at a variable rate as needed to reach or maintain the set temperature.

A variable-speed compressor paired with a variable-speed blower provides enhanced comfort while using less energy.

Contact your local American Standard dealer to learn more about the benefits of a ducted or ductless inverter heat pump system and how it can help you reduce your energy consumption and save money on your monthly heating and cooling bills.

For over a hundred years, we’ve made some of the most awarded, well-engineered heating and air conditioning equipment and earned a reputation for doing things right.

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need. 

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

Expert review by Chelsea Hudson, Product Manager, Ducted Variable Speed Outdoor