> At a Glance
> – Quilt launches a three-zone heat pump driven by real-world data from 1,000+ installed units
> – Unit retains 90 % of 27 k BTU capacity at -13 °F while trimming outdoor footprint
> – Over-the-air update last year added 20 % extra capacity free to existing owners
> – Why it matters: Multi-zone installs get cheaper, smaller, and more efficient-no lab-only promises
Quilt’s newest heat pump squeezes three indoor heads off a single outdoor box, a move the startup says slashes install cost and outdoor clutter while staying strong in sub-zero weather. The product, revealed Tuesday, leans on live data from the field-not just lab tests-to keep efficiency high when competitors typically drop off.
A Data-Driven Design
Instead of relying on a handful of lab scenarios, Quilt analyzed thousands of operating hours pulled from customer systems across different climates. Engineers spotted exactly where conventional compressors stumble at low speeds and tuned hardware plus software to stay stable.
CTO Matthew Knoll explains:
> “Most systems are tested in a lab under a couple scenarios… We have a thousand units out there in many different climates.”
By pairing that dataset with a larger copper coil and a smaller compressor, the unit can throttle down to 2,210 BTU heating or 1,570 BTU cooling per head without cycling off, avoiding the efficiency penalties that force rival pumps to shut down completely.
Real-World Results
Last September the same data pool let Quilt push an OTA update that unlocked a free 20 % capacity boost for owners during heat waves and polar blasts. The new three-zone hardware extends that philosophy to whole-home setups.
Key specs:
- Rated total: 27 k BTU
- Cold-climate output at -13 °F: 24 k BTU (≈90 %)
- Minimum per-zone output: 2.2 k heating / 1.6 k cooling
- Idle heat leakage in heating mode: ~300 BTU (comparable to a person’s body heat)
| Metric | Competitor Avg. | Quilt 3-Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Output at -13 °F | 60-70 % | 90 % |
| Outdoor units for 3 zones | 2-3 | 1 |
| Field-data feedback loop | Rare | Continuous |
What Comes Next
Quilt won’t detail future models but confirms more products are on the way, each designed to fit homes that currently lack a Quilt-ready option. The company’s $20 million Series B, raised to scale sales, bankrolls that expansion.
Key Takeaways
- One outdoor box now feeds three indoor zones, cutting hardware and install costs
- Real-time telemetry from deployed units shapes firmware and hardware tweaks competitors can’t match
- The pump keeps almost full capacity in extreme cold without sacrificing low-load efficiency
- Individual head control and ultra-low minimum outputs curb energy waste in mild weather
With the three-zone unit shipping, Quilt aims to cover the whole-home market while competitors still juggle multiple outdoor boxes or lose performance in winter chill.
