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Why Are Heat Pumps More Energy Efficient?

With cold weather approaching, you might be thinking about how well your old 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 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 residence 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, as well as:

  • How air source heat pump efficiency ratings like SEER and HSPF affect your energy bill.
  • How ENERGY STAR® certification 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 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 another heat pump rating system that calculates how well air source heat pumps will perform during the heating season. The higher the number, the better your heating system will be at consuming electricity for warm air. This is very 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 low during cold conditions.

What Does ENERGY STAR Mean on a Heat Pump?

ENERGY STAR air source heat pumps meet 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 higher
  • 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 choosing your heat pump’s efficiency rating, just like any other household equipment, the most significant thing is to pick 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 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 should 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 important to know that most heat pumps only last around 15-20 years with proper service. When yours begins to get close to this age, you’ll want to think about getting a new one.

In previous years, heat pumps were limited to places that didn’t have cold climates, due to of the way heat pumps work to pull heat from the air. Modern heat pump systems are also created to tolerate colder outdoor air and a cold climate during the winter. This lowers your dependence on a supplemental heat source, electric resistance heating or baseboard heaters during the heating season.

Upgrading your heat pump with Three Rivers Heating and Cooling 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 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 costs down the road, it might be worthwhile to see our new heat pump units.

At Three Rivers Heating and Cooling we make updating a convenient process by providing free estimate appointments for air source heat pumps. Just give us a call at (503) 739-5400 to book yours now. We’re proud to offer heat pump installation in Portland your friends and neighbors have trusted since {year}.

Three Rivers Heating and Cooling

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