With cold weather approaching, you might be wondering how well your old air source heat pump is going to work 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 save big on energy costs 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 produce heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a standard central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that work together to provide you with 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 energy 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 calculates 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 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 measures how well air source heat pumps will perform during the heating season. The higher the number, the better your heating system will be at utilizing electricity for warm air. This is particularly important for saving money in colder climates, since 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 considered 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 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 work well.

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

  • HSPF rating of 8.5 or higher
  • SEER rating of 15 or greater
  • This can reduce your heat pump’s operating costs, plus decrease greenhouse gas emissions that play a role in global warming.

How to Choose an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump

When choosing 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 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 went up 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 big difference on your heating and cooling bill.

It’s also important to know that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate service. When yours starts to approach this age, you’ll want to think about replacing it.

In previous years, 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 created to endure colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This lessens your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Replacing your heat pump with Air-Right Energy Design may be more affordable 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 comfier home temperatures with smaller energy costs down the road, it might be beneficial to check out new heat pump units.

At Air-Right Energy Design we make updating a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 703-260-9467 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Manassas your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.