With cold temperatures approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to operate this year. You might also be questioning 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 home 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 supply your heating and cooling.

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

  • 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 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 evaluates 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 better 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 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 low during cold conditions.

What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?

ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps satisfy rigorous 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 higher
  • 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 selecting your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household equipment, the most significant thing is to choose one that has an energy-efficiency rating that fits your budget.

If your budget only fits a heat pump with lower 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 required 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 must be at least 14 SEER.
  • So, changing from 10 SEER to 14 SEER will make a major 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 maintenance. When yours starts to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.

In previous years, heat pumps were restricted to areas that didn’t have cold climates, because of the way heat pumps work to extract heat from the air. Modern 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.

Replacing your heat pump with Myers Furnace Company may be more reasonably priced than you realize. Between rebates, special offers and financing for qualified customers, buying new HVAC systems may be more budget friendly 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 more comfortable home temperatures with cheaper energy bills in the future, it might be worthwhile to check out new heat pump units.

At Myers Furnace Company we make updating an easy process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just contact us at 816-249-1619 to request yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Belton your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.