With winter approaching, you might be thinking about how well your existing air source heat pump is going to work this year. You might also be curious 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 produce 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 supply your heating and cooling.
We’re going to discuss this topic now, as well as:
- How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact your heating and cooling bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® certification 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 measures how efficient air source heat pumps are at using electricity for air conditioning. 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 work during the heating season. The better the number, the better your heating system will be at consuming electricity for warm air. This is very important for saving money in colder climates, since 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 regarded 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 rigorous 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 greater
- SEER rating of 15 or higher
- This can lower your heat pump’s operating costs, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions that play a role in 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 significant thing is to pick one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.
If your budget only allows for a heat pump with lower ratings, don’t worry! Even a new one 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 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, changing from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a big difference on your energy bill.
It’s also important to know that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper maintenance. When yours starts to approach 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, due to of the way heat pumps work to pull heat from the air. Modern heat pump systems are also created to withstand 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 Watts Electric & AC may be more affordable than you realize. 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 comfier home temperatures with lower energy costs in the future, it might be worthwhile to see our new heat pump units.
At Watts Electric & AC we make upgrading an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 601-736-7362 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Columbia your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.