How an over-the-air update made Quilt’s heat pumps more powerful

Quilt, a heat pump startup, has pioneered the use of over-the-air (OTA) software updates in residential HVAC systems, significantly enhancing the performance of its heat pumps without hardware changes. By integrating higher quality sensors—such as additional pressure sensors and more accurate temperature and current sensors—Quilt was able to collect detailed operational data that revealed untapped capacity in their units. This insight allowed the company to increase the maximum heating and cooling output from 20,500 and 19,700 BTUs per hour to 25,200 and 24,000 BTUs per hour, respectively, enabling the heat pumps to better handle extreme temperatures while maintaining efficiency. The OTA update involved both software and firmware improvements across the main processor and microcontrollers within the indoor and outdoor units. While the inclusion of advanced sensors and networking components added some cost to the bill of materials, Quilt’s leadership believes the benefits—such as continuous improvement, broader market applicability, and avoiding the need for new hardware models—far outweigh