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 save big 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 house cooler or warmer. They don’t create heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a traditional 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 affect your energy bill.
  • How ENERGY STAR® models can help you spend less 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 utilizing electricity for cooling. The greater 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 a different heat pump rating system that measures how well air source heat pumps will work during the heating season. The greater the number, the better your heating system will be at utilizing electricity for warm air. This is very important for saving money in colder climates, considering 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 down during cold conditions.

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 work 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 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 appliance, the most important thing is to choose one that has an energy-efficiency rating that you can afford.

If your budget only fits a heat pump with lower 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 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 must 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 appropriate maintenance. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.

In the past, heat pumps were limited to areas that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to pull heat from the air. Modern heat pump systems are also created to withstand 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 Bell Mechanical Services may be more reasonably priced than you realize. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, getting new HVAC systems may be more affordable than you think it is.

It’s not easy to find the time and money to switch aging air source systems. But if you want comfier home temperatures with lower energy bills down the road, it might be worth your while to check out new heat pump units.

At Bell Mechanical Services we make upgrading a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 888-863-0560 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in McKinney and Frisco your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.