With cold weather approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to operate this year. You might also be curious if now is a smart 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 generate 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 provide you with 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 impact your energy bill.
  • How ENERGY STAR® certification 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 evaluates how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing 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 regarded as having good energy efficiency.

What Is HSPF in Heat Pumps?

HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is a different 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 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 down during cold temperatures.

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 operate 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 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 system, 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 lower ratings, don’t fret! Even a new model 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 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 must 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 note that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate service. When yours begins to approach this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.

In previous years, heat pumps were limited to areas that didn’t have cold climates, due to 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 reduces your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Upgrading your heat pump with Kilbourne Heating & AC may be more reasonably priced than you think it is. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, buying new HVAC systems may be more budget friendly than you think it is.

It’s not easy to find the time and money to replace aging air source systems. But if you want comfier home temperatures with smaller energy bills in the future, it might be beneficial to see our new heat pump units.

At Kilbourne Heating & AC we make updating a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 561-287-7071 to request yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Delray Beach your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.