NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
Is a Heat Pump Right for Houston, TX?
How your local climate decides whether a heat pump handles Houston, TX's heating on its own — or how much you'll lean on backup heat during the coldest stretches.
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Days at/below 32°F
Per year, average — the cold-climate signal
1,237
Heating degree-days
Total heating load over the year
96
Days ≥ 90°F
A heat pump cools too, in summer
What this means if you live in Houston: your winter is about middle-of-the-pack (#16 of 20 we track) for freezing days — about 91% below the average across the metros we track. That's an excellent fit for a heat pump: with so few days near or below freezing, a properly sized unit handles nearly all of your heating on its own and rarely needs to fall back on backup heat. Because it both heats and cools from one system, a heat pump is often the most efficient single choice for a climate this mild. That ranking is measured against the 20 metros ClearPick tracks, not a generic national claim — which is exactly why a contractor sizing the system for Houston, TX's actual winter (not a one-size spec) is what determines whether a heat pump saves you money or quietly runs on expensive backup heat all season.
Why do freezing days matter for a heat pump?
A heat pump doesn't burn fuel — it moves heat from the outdoor air into your home. The colder the air outside, the less heat there is to move, so its efficiency (and its maximum heat output) falls as the temperature drops toward and below freezing. Modern cold-climate models are far better at this than older units and keep working well below 0°F, but on the coldest hours a home in a freeze-prone climate still calls on backup heat — either a gas furnace in a "dual-fuel" setup or electric-resistance strips — to make up the difference. Counting the days at or below 32°F is a simple, real proxy for how often that backup gets used, which is what drives both the sizing decision and the winter operating cost.
Freezing-day and heating-load data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals, station GHCND:USC00414326. Comparison figures are computed across the 20 metros ClearPick currently tracks, not a national survey. Whether a heat pump or a dual-fuel system is right for your specific home depends on its insulation, existing fuel source, and your local electricity and gas prices — get a contractor quote for a recommendation specific to your house.
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