With cold temperatures approaching, you might be thinking about how well your old air source heat pump is going to run 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 an all-in-one heating system and cooling system. These heat pumps transfer heat from the outdoor air to make your house 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 today, plus:

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact your energy bill.
  • How ENERGY STAR® models can help you save 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 measures 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 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 perform during the heating season. The greater the number, the better your heating system will be at using electricity for warm air. This is very 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 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 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 reduce 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 selecting your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household equipment, the most significant thing is to choose one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.

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 use 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, switching from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a big difference on your energy bill.

It’s also essential to know that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate service. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.

In previous years, heat pumps were restricted to areas that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to pull 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 lowers your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Replacing your heat pump with Speedy Air Conditioning may be more reasonably priced than you realize. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, getting new HVAC systems may be more affordable than you realize.

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 lower energy costs down the road, it might be worth your while to check out new heat pump units.

At Speedy Air Conditioning we make upgrading an easy process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 239-244-3439 to book yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Naples your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.