Deciding On A Heat Pump: Check And Compare The SEER And HSPF Ratings

Deciding On A Heat Pump: Check And Compare The SEER And HSPF Ratings

When the weather’s hot and the utility bills are creeping up as you try to keep your home comfortable, the need to find an energy-efficient solution to cooling your home becomes obvious. One answer for many homeowners in the Pasadena area is a heat pump. Heat pumps both heat and cool your house, giving you energy efficiency all year long. When it comes to choosing a heat pump, understanding energy efficiency ratings can help you maximize your savings.

Heat pumps come with two ratings:

• SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures the total amount of coldness provided during the hot season divided by the energy that the heat pump uses. The current standard, set in 2006, is a SEER rating of 12 for heat pumps. This is up from a standard rating of 6 before 2006, making modern heat pumps twice as energy efficient when it comes to cooling your home. Although a SEER rating of 12 is the standard, heat pumps with a SEER rating of 14 to 18 are the most energy efficient.
• HSPF stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. It measures the total heating power of the heat pump during winter divided by the energy that is used during that season. The current standard is 7.7, but the most efficient heat pumps have a HSPF rating of between 8 and 10.

If all the ratings seem confusing, the simplest way to make sure you are getting the best energy savings is to look for the Energy Star label. In order to earn an Energy Star label, equipment must meet or exceed the current standards for energy efficiency.

In a warm climate, having a high SEER rating is the priority because the heat pump will be using the most energy trying to cool the house in the summer. However, a high HSPF rating, while not as important, can help with winter heating bills.

For more expert advice on heat pumps, or any other HVAC matters in the Pasadena area, contact Air-Tro.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.