With wintertime approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to work this year.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 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 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 work together to provide you with heating and cooling.

We’re going to discuss this topic now, plus:

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF affect your heating and cooling 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 utilizing electricity for air conditioning. The greater 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 calculates how well air source heat pumps will operate during the heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at utilizing electricity for warm air. This is very important for saving money in colder climates, because 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 considered 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 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 work 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 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 choosing your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household equipment, the most important thing is to pick one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.

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 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 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 essential to note that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper service. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.

In previous years, heat pumps were limited to areas that didn’t have cold climates, due to of the way heat pumps work to extract heat from the air. Today’s heat pump systems are also created 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.

Replacing your heat pump with Air Service Co. may be more reasonably priced 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 more comfortable home temperatures with smaller energy bills in the future, it might be beneficial to check out new heat pump units.

At Air Service Co. we make updating an easy process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 918-212-8943 to book yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Muldrow your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.