NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
Is a Heat Pump Right for Raleigh, NC?
How your local climate decides whether a heat pump handles Raleigh, NC'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
3,294
Heating degree-days
Total heating load over the year
46
Days ≥ 90°F
A heat pump cools too, in summer
What this means if you live in Raleigh: your winter is about middle-of-the-pack (#10 of 20 we track) for freezing days — about 12% above the average across the metros we track. A modern cold-climate heat pump will still run and heat your home here, including on sub-freezing days — the honest caveat is that its efficiency dips in the coldest hours, so on Raleigh, NC's hardest cold snaps you'll lean on backup heat (a dual-fuel gas furnace or electric-resistance strips) to keep up. With this many freezing days, that backup isn't a rare event — it's a design decision, and getting the crossover point and backup type right is what keeps your winter operating cost reasonable. 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 Raleigh, NC'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:USC00317079. 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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