With cold weather approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to work this year.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 save big on energy bills 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 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 provide you with heating and cooling.

We’re going to discuss this topic today, 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 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 using electricity for cooling. The higher 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 another 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 using electricity for warm air. This is particularly 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 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 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 operate 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, as well as reduce 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 fits your budget.

If your budget only allows for a heat pump with lesser ratings, don’t worry! Even a new one 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 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 approach this age, you’ll want to think about replacing it.

In previous years, heat pumps were limited to locations that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to extract heat from the air. Today’s heat pump systems are also made to tolerate 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 Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. may be more affordable than you realize. 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 switch aging air source systems. But if you want comfier home temperatures with smaller energy costs in the future, it might be worthwhile to see our new heat pump units.

At Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. we make updating a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just call us at 270-358-3167 to request yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Hodgenville your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.