With cold weather approaching, you might be wondering how well your existing air source heat pump is going to work 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 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 produce heat or air conditioning like a natural gas furnace or a regular 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 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 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 calculates how efficient air source heat pumps are at utilizing electricity for air conditioning. 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 higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at using electricity for warm air. This is especially important for saving money in colder climates, since 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 deemed to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs down during cold weather.

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 achieve 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 decrease 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 select one that has an energy-efficiency rating that you can afford.

If your budget only fits a heat pump with lesser 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 energy bill.

It’s also essential to note that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper service. When yours starts to approach 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, because 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 decreases 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 affordable 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 smaller energy bills down the road, it might be beneficial to see our new heat pump units.

At AZ Air Conditioning and Heating we make upgrading a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us 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}.