With wintertime approaching, you might be thinking about how well your existing air source heat pump is going to operate this year. You might also be wondering if now is a smart 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 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 go over this topic today, 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 spend less 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 a different heat pump rating system that calculates how well air source heat pumps will operate during the heating season. The greater the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at consuming electricity for warm air. This is especially important for saving money in colder climates, since 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 considered to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs down 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 run well.

Air source heat pumps achieve ENERGY STAR if they have:

  • HSPF rating of 8.5 or greater
  • SEER rating of 15 or greater
  • This can reduce your heat pump’s operating costs, plus 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 equipment, the most important thing is to select one that has an energy-efficiency rating that you can afford.

If your budget only allows for a heat pump with lesser ratings, don’t fret! Even a new model 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 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 major difference on your energy bill.

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

In the past, heat pumps were restricted to locations 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 withstand colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This lessens your reliance on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Upgrading your heat pump with AZ Air Conditioning and Heating may be more reasonably priced than you think it is. 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 replace aging air source systems. But if you want comfier home temperatures with cheaper energy costs down the road, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.

At AZ Air Conditioning and Heating we make upgrading an easy process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 800-296-5088 to request yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Los Angeles your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.