With cold weather approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to run this year.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 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 create 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 discuss this topic today, as well as:
- How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF affect your heating and cooling bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® models 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 evaluates how efficient air source heat pumps are at using electricity for cooling. The higher the SEER, the more efficient 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 another heat pump rating system that calculates how well air source heat pumps will operate during the heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at consuming electricity for warm air. This is especially important for saving money in colder climates, considering your heat pump won’t have to work 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 deemed to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs lower during cold conditions.
What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?
ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps satisfy strict 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 achieve ENERGY STAR if they have:
- HSPF rating of 8.5 or higher
- SEER rating of 15 or higher
- This can reduce your heat pump’s operating costs, plus lower 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 equipment, the most important 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 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 mandated 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, changing from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a big difference on your energy 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 getting a new one.
In the past, heat pumps were restricted to places that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to extract 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 lessens your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Upgrading your heat pump with Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating may be more reasonably priced 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 think it is.
It’s not easy to find the time and money to switch aging air source systems. But if you want comfier home temperatures with smaller energy costs in the future, it might be beneficial to check out new heat pump units.
At Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating we make updating a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us at (818) 727-9993 to book yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Northridge your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.
