With winter approaching, you might be wondering how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to operate this year. You might also be curious 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 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 generate heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a traditional central air conditioner. A heat pump has indoor and outdoor units that interact to supply your heating and cooling.

We’re going to go over this topic now, as well as:

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact 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 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 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 operate during the heating season. The higher the number, the better your heating system will be at using electricity for warm air. This is especially important for saving money in colder climates, considering your heat pump won’t have to work 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 down 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 qualify for ENERGY STAR if they have:

  • HSPF rating of 8.5 or greater
  • SEER rating of 15 or greater
  • This can lower your heat pump’s operating costs, as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to 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 significant thing is to select 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 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 heating and cooling bill.

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

In the past, heat pumps were restricted to areas 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 withstand 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 Bigfoot Mechanical 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 affordable than you realize.

It’s not easy to find the time and money to replace aging air source systems. But if you want comfier home temperatures with lower energy costs down the road, it might be beneficial to see our new heat pump units.

At Bigfoot Mechanical we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us at 509-392-8770 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Spokane your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.