With wintertime approaching, you might be wondering how well your old air source heat pump is going to operate 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 a combined heating system and cooling system. These heat pumps transfer heat from the outdoor air to make your house cooler or warmer. They don’t create heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a standard 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 go over this topic now, plus:
- How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact your heating and cooling bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® models can help you spend less money.
- How to select 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 evaluates how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing electricity for cooling. 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 another heat pump rating system that measures how well air source heat pumps will perform during the heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at using 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 regarded to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs down 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 operate well.
Air source heat pumps achieve 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, plus decrease greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.
How to Choose an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump
When choosing your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household equipment, the most important thing is to pick one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.
If your budget only fits a heat pump with lesser ratings, don’t worry! Even a new one with a lower rating is going to consume less energy than one that’s 10 or 15 years old. Here’s why.
- From 1999 to 2005, federal regulations required air source heat pumps to have a 10 SEER rating.
- That number went up 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 important to note that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate maintenance. When yours begins to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about replacing it.
In the past, heat pumps were limited to locations that didn’t have cold climates, due to of the way heat pumps work to extract heat from the air. Today’s heat pump systems are also created to endure colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This decreases your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Upgrading your heat pump with Rescue Heating & Air may be more affordable than you think it is. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, getting new HVAC systems may be more affordable 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 Rescue Heating & Air we make updating a convenient process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 361-265-4371 to book yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Alice your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.