With winter approaching, you might be wondering how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to operate this year.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 spend less 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 generate heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a standard central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that interact to provide you with 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 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 evaluates 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 another heat pump rating system that calculates how well air source heat pumps will operate during the heating season. The greater the number, the more efficient 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 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 lower during cold temperatures.
What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?
ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps satisfy rigorous requirements set forth 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 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 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 lesser ratings, don’t fret! 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 guidelines 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 energy bill.
It’s also important to note that most 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 replacing it.
In the past, heat pumps were restricted to places 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 made to tolerate 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 Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning 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 budget friendly than you realize.
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 cheaper energy costs down the road, it might be a good idea to see our new heat pump units.
At Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 636-456-5041 to book yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Warrenton your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.