With winter approaching, you might be wondering how well your existing air source heat pump is going to run this year. You might also be wondering if now is a smart time to do heat pump installation.
A new air source heat pump is more energy efficient and can help you save big on energy bills over its lifetime.
They’re an all-in-one heating system and cooling system. These heat pumps transfer heat from the outdoor air to make your home cooler or warmer. They don’t generate heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a traditional central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that interact to supply your heating and cooling.
We’re going to go over this topic today, as well as:
- How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF affect your energy bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® certification can help you save 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 measures how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing electricity for cooling. The higher 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 considered to have 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 particularly important for saving money in colder climates, because your heat pump won’t have to run 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 satisfy 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 run well.
Air source heat pumps qualify for ENERGY STAR if they have:
- HSPF rating of 8.5 or higher
- SEER rating of 15 or higher
- This can lower your heat pump’s operating costs, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.
How to Choose an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump
When selecting your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household appliance, the most significant thing is to choose one that has an energy-efficiency rating that you can afford.
If your budget only fits a heat pump with lower ratings, don’t worry! Even a new model 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, changing from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a big difference on your heating and cooling bill.
It’s also important to know that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper service. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.
In the past, heat pumps were restricted to locations that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to pull heat from the air. Today’s heat pump systems are also created to tolerate colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This reduces your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Upgrading your heat pump with Freed Heating & Air Conditioning may be more affordable than you think it is. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, buying new HVAC systems may be more affordable than you think it is.
It’s not easy to find the time and money to replace aging air source systems. But if you want more comfortable home temperatures with smaller energy bills down the road, it might be a good idea to see our new heat pump units.
At Freed Heating & Air Conditioning we make updating a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 309-323-9584 to request yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Moline your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.