With winter approaching, you might be wondering how well your old air source heat pump is going to run 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 spend less on energy costs 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 regular central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that work together to supply your heating and cooling.
We’re going to go over this topic now, plus:
- 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 measures how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing electricity for cooling. 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 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 work during the heating season. The better the number, the better your heating system will be at using electricity for warm air. This is particularly 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 lower 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 run 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 lower greenhouse gas emissions that play a role in global warming.
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 lower 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 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 must 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 important to note that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate maintenance. When yours begins to approach this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.
In previous years, heat pumps were restricted to places 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 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.
Upgrading your heat pump with Lakeside Heating & Air may be more reasonably priced 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 replace aging air source systems. But if you want more comfortable home temperatures with smaller energy costs in the future, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.
At Lakeside Heating & Air we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 509-284-4265 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Chelan and Wenatchee your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.