With cold weather approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to run this year.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 house cooler or warmer. They don't generate 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 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 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 considered to have 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 using 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 considered to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs low during cold weather.
What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?
ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps meet 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 operate well.
Air source heat pumps achieve ENERGY STAR if they have:
- HSPF rating of 8.5 or greater
- SEER rating of 15 or higher
- 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 equipment, the most important thing is to select one that has an energy efficiency rating that fits your budget.
If your budget only allows for a heat pump with lesser 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 regulations required air source heat pumps to have a 10 SEER rating.
- That number increased 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 essential to know that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate maintenance. When yours starts to approach this age, you'll want to think about replacing it.
In previous years, heat pumps were limited to places 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 created to endure colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This reduces your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Replacing your heat pump with Custom Air Systems Inc may be more affordable than you realize. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, getting new HVAC systems may be more budget friendly than you think it is.
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 smaller energy bills in the future, it might be worth your while to check out new heat pump units.
At Custom Air Systems Inc we make upgrading an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 772-247-2283 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Port St. Lucie your friends and neighbors have trusted since 1974.