With cold weather approaching, you might be thinking about how well your existing air source heat pump is going to work this year. You might also be wondering if now is a wise time to do heat pump installation.
A new air source heat pump is more energy efficient and can help you save big on energy costs over its lifetime.
They’re a combined heating system and cooling system. These heat pumps transfer heat from the outdoor air to make your home cooler or warmer. They don’t produce heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a regular central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that work together to provide you with heating and cooling.
We’re going to discuss this topic today, plus:
- How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact your energy bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® models can help you spend less money.
- How to choose an energy-efficient heat pump system for your home.
What Is SEER in Heat Pump?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a heat pump rating system that calculates how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing electricity for air conditioning. The greater the SEER, the better they are at transferring heat during the cooling season.
What Is a Good SEER Rating for a Heat Pump?
A heat pump with a SEER between 14 and 16 is regarded as having good energy efficiency.
What Is HSPF in Heat Pumps?
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is a different heat pump rating system that calculates how well air source heat pumps will perform during the heating season. The greater the number, the better your heating system will be at utilizing electricity for warm air. This is very important for saving money in colder climates, because your heat pump won’t have to operate as hard as it transfers heat.
What Is a Good HSPF Rating for a Heat Pump?
Heat pump systems with an HSPF between 8 and 10 are considered to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs low during cold conditions.
What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?
ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps meet strict requirements established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for both heating efficiency and cooling efficiency, so you know these high-efficiency heat pumps will work well.
Air source heat pumps qualify for ENERGY STAR if they have:
- HSPF rating of 8.5 or higher
- SEER rating of 15 or greater
- This can lower your heat pump’s operating costs, as well as decrease greenhouse gas emissions that play a role in global warming.
How to Choose an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump
When choosing your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household system, the most important thing is to select one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.
If your budget only fits a heat pump with lesser ratings, don’t fret! Even a new one with a lower rating is going to use less energy than one that’s 10 or 15 years old. Here’s why.
- From 1999 to 2005, federal guidelines mandated air source heat pumps to have a 10 SEER rating.
- That number increased to 13 from 2006 to 2014.
- Today, a new heat pump should be at least 14 SEER.
- So, switching from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a major difference on your heating and cooling bill.
It’s also essential to know that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate service. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.
In previous years, heat pumps were limited to areas that didn’t have cold climates, due to of the way heat pumps work to pull heat from the air. Modern heat pump systems are also created to endure colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This decreases your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Replacing your heat pump with House of Heating Incorporated may be more reasonably priced than you think it is. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, buying new HVAC systems may be more budget friendly than you think it is.
It’s not easy to find the time and money to switch aging air source systems. But if you want more comfortable home temperatures with smaller energy bills in the future, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.
At House of Heating Incorporated we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us at 715-384-3163 to book yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Marshfield your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.