With wintertime approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to run this year.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 costs 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 interact to supply your heating and cooling.

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

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF impact your energy bill.
  • How ENERGY STAR® certification 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 using 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 calculates how well air source heat pumps will operate during the heating season. The better the number, the better your heating system will be at consuming electricity for warm air. This is especially important for saving money in colder climates, because 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 considered to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs low during cold conditions.

What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?

ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps meet 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 run well.

Air source heat pumps qualify for 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 decrease 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 system, the most significant thing is to choose 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 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 should be at least 14 SEER.
  • So, changing from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a big difference on your heating and cooling bill.

It’s also important to note that the majority of heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with appropriate maintenance. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about replacing it.

In previous years, heat pumps were restricted to areas that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to pull heat from the air. Today’s heat pump systems are also created 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 Done Right Air may be more affordable 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 lower energy bills down the road, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.

At Done Right Air we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us at 414-208-9000 to book yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in West Allis & Milwaukee area your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.