With wintertime 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 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 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 residence 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 today, as well as:
- How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF affect your heating and cooling bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® models can help you save 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 evaluates how efficient air source heat pumps are at using electricity for cooling. 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 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 consuming 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 low 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 achieve ENERGY STAR if they have:
- HSPF rating of 8.5 or higher
- SEER rating of 15 or higher
- This can lower your heat pump’s operating costs, plus decrease greenhouse gas emissions that play a role in global climate change.
How to Choose an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump
When choosing your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household appliance, the most significant thing is to choose one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.
If your budget only fits 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 guidelines 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 big 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 replacing it.
In previous years, heat pumps were restricted to places that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to extract 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 lowers your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Upgrading your heat pump with Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC 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 realize.
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 lower energy costs down the road, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.
At Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC we make upgrading a convenient process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 215-741-5505 to request yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Croydon your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.