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 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 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 home cooler or warmer. They don’t produce heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a traditional central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that work together 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 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 using 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 perform during the heating season. The higher 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 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 low during cold conditions.

What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?

ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps meet 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 lower your heat pump’s operating costs, as well as 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 appliance, the most significant thing is to pick one that has an energy-efficiency rating that you can afford.

If your budget only allows for a heat pump with lesser ratings, don’t worry! Even a new model 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 must be at least 14 SEER.
  • So, changing from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a major difference on your energy bill.

It’s also important to note that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate maintenance. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about replacing it.

In previous years, heat pumps were restricted to areas 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 withstand 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.

Replacing your heat pump with Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. 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 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 lower energy costs down the road, it might be a good idea to see our new heat pump units.

At Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 863-216-2923 to book yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Haines City your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.