With wintertime approaching, you might be thinking about how well your outdated air source heat pump is going to work this year.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 smart time to do heat pump installation.

A new air source heat pump is more energy efficient and can help you save big 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 generate 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 discuss this topic now, plus:

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF affect your energy 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 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 considered to have 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 higher the number, the more efficient your heating system will be at using electricity for warm air. This is particularly important for saving money in colder climates, because 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 regarded to be energy efficient and can help keep heating costs lower 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 operate well.

Air source heat pumps achieve 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 contribute to global climate change.

How to Choose an Energy-Efficient Heat Pump

When choosing your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household equipment, the most significant 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 worry! 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 guidelines 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 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 getting a new one.

In the past, heat pumps were restricted to areas 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 endure colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This reduces your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Replacing your heat pump with Bain Heating & Air Conditioning 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 budget friendly than you realize.

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 smaller energy costs in the future, it might be a good idea to see our new heat pump units.

At Bain Heating & Air Conditioning we make upgrading an easy process by giving free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at 256-270-1196 to book yours today. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Heflin your friends and neighbors have trusted since year.