With cold temperatures approaching, you might be wondering how well your old air source heat pump is going to operate this year. You might also be questioning 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 spend less on energy bills 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 residence cooler or warmer. They don’t create heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a regular central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that interact to supply your 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® models 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 measures how efficient air source heat pumps are at using 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 another heat pump rating system that calculates how well air source heat pumps will operate during the heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at utilizing electricity for warm air. This is especially 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 deemed 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 satisfy rigorous 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 achieve ENERGY STAR if they have:
- HSPF rating of 8.5 or greater
- SEER rating of 15 or greater
- This can lower your heat pump’s operating costs, as well as reduce 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 you can afford.
If your budget only allows for a heat pump with lower ratings, don’t worry! Even a new model with a lower rating is going to consume 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 increased 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 major 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 begins to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.
In the past, heat pumps were limited to locations that didn’t have cold climates, because 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 reduces your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Upgrading your heat pump with Kapaun & Brown 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 more comfortable home temperatures with smaller energy bills in the future, it might be beneficial to see our new heat pump units.
At Kapaun & Brown we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us at 641-812-2028 to request yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Marshalltown your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.