With wintertime approaching, you might be thinking about how well your old air source heat pump is going to work this year. You might also be wondering if now is a good time to do heat pump installation.

A new air source heat pump is more energy efficient and can help you save big 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 residence cooler or warmer. They don’t create heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a standard central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that interact to provide you with heating and cooling.

We’re going to go over this topic today, plus:

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact your energy 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 calculates how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing electricity for air conditioning. The higher 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 a different heat pump rating system that measures 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 run 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 down during cold temperatures.

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 operate well.

Air source heat pumps qualify for ENERGY STAR if they have:

  • HSPF rating of 8.5 or greater
  • SEER rating of 15 or greater
  • This can reduce your heat pump’s operating costs, plus decrease 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 select one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.

If your budget only fits a heat pump with lesser ratings, don’t worry! 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 regulations mandated air source heat pumps to have a 10 SEER rating.
  • That number increased 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 major difference on your energy bill.

It’s also essential to know that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper 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 locations that didn’t have cold climates, due to of the way heat pumps work to extract heat from the air. Modern heat pump systems are also made to withstand colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This decreases your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Upgrading your heat pump with Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. may be more reasonably priced than you realize. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, buying new HVAC systems may be more budget friendly 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 cheaper energy bills in the future, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.

At Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. we make upgrading a convenient process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 270-358-3167 to book yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Hodgenville your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.