Best Home Battery for a Bungalow with a Heat Pump: 5 Backup Picks That Keep the Heating On

A bungalow with a heat pump has one job for a home battery: keep the compressor running when the grid drops. That takes more than a phone-sized power bank, so this roundup focuses on five LFP units that can carry a real load and, in most cases, grow with the house.

The picks split into three buyer profiles: the whole-home planner who wants a battery that scales toward a full backup system, the budget-conscious owner who needs a single-room or single-circuit bridge, and the camper who wants one unit for both the bungalow and the van. The overview table below puts the key numbers side by side so a decision can be made in under a minute.

Overview of the Picks

Product	Key Spec	Best Use	Price Tier
Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus and Extra Battery	7168Wh, 3600W, expandable to 21kWh	Whole-home heat pump backup	Premium
GROWATT HELIOS 3600 Combo	7200Wh, 7200W, 120V/240V, expandable to 36kWh	240V loads and large homes	Premium
EF ECOFLOW DELTA 3 Max	2048Wh, 2400W, 3400W X-Boost	Portable whole-room backup	Mid
Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max & 500W Panel	3584Wh, 2000W/4000W 240V, expandable to 43kWh	Scalable long-term investment	Premium
UDPOWER S2400	2083Wh, 2400W, 3000W surge, UPS	Budget critical-load backup	Budget

1. Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus and Extra Battery

Battery Chemistry: LFP (lithium iron phosphate)
Capacity: 7168Wh as bundled
Expandable To: 21kWh
AC Output: 3600W
Intended Use: Essential home backup, emergencies
Configuration: Main unit plus extra battery

Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus and Extra Battery

This is the bundle that removes the guesswork from sizing. The main unit and the extra battery ship together at just over 7kWh, which is a realistic buffer for a bungalow running a modern heat pump through a short outage, and the LFP chemistry is the right choice for a unit that sits idle in a garage for months at a time.

The 3600W AC output is the number that matters for heating. It is enough headroom for a heat pump compressor plus the circulation pumps and controls around it, provided the unit is wired to the circuits that actually matter rather than the whole panel.

The expandability to 21kWh is what earns this pick its place. A bungalow owner can start with the bundle, live through one winter, and add capacity later without replacing the inverter or the wiring.

Trade-off: The bundled price puts it firmly in premium territory, and buyers paying for two boxes up front are betting that a long outage is likely enough to justify the capacity before they have tested it.

2. GROWATT HELIOS 3600 Home Battery Backup Combo

Battery Chemistry: LFP
Capacity: 7200Wh
AC Output: 7200W, 120V/240V
Expandable To: 36kWh
Included: Double Voltage Hub
Intended Use: Home backup, RVs, outdoor camping

GROWATT HELIOS 3600 Home Battery Backup Combo with Double Voltage Hub

The headline here is the 240V output. A heat pump that runs on a 240V circuit cannot be fed by a 120V-only unit no matter how large the battery is, and the included Double Voltage Hub is what makes this combo a genuine whole-appliance solution rather than a workaround.

At 7200W the AC output is the highest in this group, which leaves room for a heat pump, a well pump, or a fridge and freezer cycling at the same time. The 7200Wh capacity is a sensible starting point for a bungalow, and the path to 36kWh means the system can be grown in stages.

The trade-off is complexity. A 240V install with a hub is a bigger project than plugging a portable station into a wall, and it suits the owner who is planning the electrical work rather than the one who wants a box on a shelf.

Trade-off: The high output and 240V wiring make this a semi-permanent installation, so it is a poor fit for anyone who wants to carry the same battery to a campsite on weekends.

3. EF ECOFLOW DELTA 3 Max Portable Power Station

Battery Chemistry: LFP
Capacity: 2048Wh
AC Output: 2400W, 3400W X-Boost
Recharge: 0-80% in 1.13 hours
Solar: Panel optional
Intended Use: Home backup, RV camping

EF ECOFLOW DELTA 3 Max Portable Power Station

This is the pick for the bungalow owner who wants one box that does two jobs. At 2048Wh it will not carry a heat pump for a full day, but it will bridge a short outage, run the blower and controls, and keep the fridge cold, then go in the car for a camping trip.

The fast recharge is the standout feature. Getting to 80% in a little over an hour means a brief grid window or a generator run is enough to refill it, which changes how the unit is used during a multi-day event.

The 2400W output with 3400W X-Boost handles motor starts better than the base rating suggests, so a fridge compressor or a small pump can kick on without tripping the unit.

Trade-off: The capacity is the smallest of the mid-range picks here, so a heat pump in cold weather will drain it faster than the spec sheet implies, and it is best treated as a bridge rather than a whole-home solution.

4. Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max & 500W Panel

Battery Chemistry: LFP
Capacity: 3584Wh
AC Output: 2000W at 120V, 4000W at 240V
Expandable To: 43kWh
Included: 500W solar panel
Intended Use: Outages and emergencies

Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max & 500W Panel

The expansion ceiling is the reason this one is on the list. A path to 43kWh is the largest in this roundup, which makes it the pick for a bungalow owner who intends to build the system over several years rather than buy it all at once.

The 240V output at 4000W is enough for a heat pump circuit, and the included 500W panel gives the system a way to recover some charge during a long summer outage without a generator.

The starting capacity of 3584Wh is modest for the money, so this is a long-game purchase. The value arrives when the second and third batteries are added, not on day one.

Trade-off: The bundled panel is a nice extra but a small one relative to a heat pump’s appetite, and the low starting capacity means the first winter may feel tighter than the price suggests.

5. UDPOWER S2400 Portable Power Station

Battery Chemistry: LiFePO4
Capacity: 2083Wh
AC Output: 2400W, 3000W surge
Outlets: 6 AC
Features: UPS function
Intended Use: Home backup, RVs, camping, emergencies

UDPOWER S2400 Portable Power Station

This is the budget entry, and it is honest about what it is. The 2400W output with a 3000W surge covers a fridge, lights, router and a small pump, and the six AC outlets mean fewer power strips in a dark hallway.

The UPS function is the useful part for a bungalow. Plugging the router or a medical device into it means those loads switch over without a manual step when the grid fails, which is often more valuable than raw capacity.

LiFePO4 chemistry at this price is the right call for something that may sit unused for long stretches, and it holds up better to being stored at partial charge.

Trade-off: There is no 240V output and no expansion path, so this cannot feed a heat pump circuit directly and is a critical-loads unit rather than a heating solution.

Before You Buy

• Voltage: A heat pump needs a 240V feed. Confirm the battery offers 240V output before anything else, because a 120V-only unit cannot run the compressor.
• Output, Not Just Capacity: A large battery with a small inverter will still trip when the compressor starts. Match the AC output and surge rating to the heat pump’s locked-rotor draw.
• Expandability: Bungalow owners often add capacity in stages. A unit with a published expansion path costs more now but avoids a full replacement later.
• Chemistry: LFP is the standard for home backup because it tolerates partial charge and long idle periods better than older lithium blends.
• Installation Type: Portable units plug in and move; 240V combos with a hub are closer to a wiring project. Decide which fits the house before buying.
• Recharge Options: Grid, solar and generator input all matter during a multi-day outage. A unit with only one recharge path is a single point of failure.
• Placement: Batteries dislike cold. A bungalow’s garage or utility room may drop below the chemistry’s comfort zone, so plan an indoor spot near the panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a home battery run a heat pump overnight?
   Yes, if the capacity and output are sized correctly. A unit with 240V output and enough wattage for the compressor can carry a heat pump for hours, but the runtime depends on outdoor temperature and how well the bungalow is insulated.

2. How much battery capacity does a bungalow with a heat pump need?
   There is no single number, but the picks here start around 2kWh for critical loads and climb past 7kWh for whole-home coverage. Buyers planning for multi-day outages should favor units that expand.

3. Is LFP the right chemistry for home backup?
   LFP is the common choice for stationary backup because it handles partial charging and long idle periods well. It is also the chemistry used across all five picks in this roundup.

4. Can a portable power station be wired into a home panel?
   Most portable units are designed for plug-in loads, not panel wiring. Whole-home use generally requires a 240V combo with a transfer solution, which is why the GROWATT and Jackery expansion units sit at the top of this list.

5. What is the difference between 120V and 240V output here?
   A 120V output runs standard household plugs and small appliances. A 240V output is what a heat pump circuit needs, and only some units in this roundup provide it.

6. Do these batteries work with solar panels?
   Most do, and one pick includes a panel. Solar input extends runtime during a long outage, but panel output is small relative to a heat pump’s draw, so it supplements rather than replaces grid or generator charging.

Bottom Line

For a bungalow with a heat pump, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus and Extra Battery is the most complete starting point: 240V-capable output, over 7kWh out of the box, and a clear path to 21kWh as the household’s needs grow. Buyers who need the highest output and the largest expansion ceiling should look at the GROWATT combo instead, while anyone who mainly wants to keep the fridge and router alive through a short outage can save money with the UDPOWER S2400.