With cold weather approaching, you might be wondering how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to operate this year.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 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 house cooler or warmer. They don’t create 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 provide you with 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 affect your energy bill.
- How ENERGY STAR® certification can help you save 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 another heat pump rating system that measures how well air source heat pumps will perform during the heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at using electricity for warm air. This is very important for saving money in colder climates, considering your heat pump won’t have to operate 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 regarded to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs lower during cold conditions.
What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?
ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps satisfy rigorous 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, as well as decrease 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 important thing is to pick one that has an energy-efficiency rating that you can afford.
If your budget only fits a heat pump with lower ratings, don’t worry! Even a new one 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 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 major difference on your heating and cooling bill.
It’s also important to know that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper maintenance. When yours starts to get close to 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 pull heat from the air. Modern heat pump systems are also made to tolerate colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This decreases your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.
Upgrading your heat pump with Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating may be more affordable than you think it is. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, getting new HVAC systems may be more affordable 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 cheaper energy costs down the road, it might be worth your while to see our new heat pump units.
At Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating we make upgrading a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 314-262-4541 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Saint Louis your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.