Heat pumps deserve a second look when homeowners are upgrading their heating and cooling systems. Able to produce both heated and cooled air, heat pumps operate much more efficiently than standard gas furnace systems, and perform just as efficiently as a central air-conditioning system.
To select a system that matches your needs, look at efficiency and advanced features.
Efficiency ratings
When selecting a heat pump, consider two ratings to evaluate efficiency: HSPF for heating mode and SEER for cooling mode.
- Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) reveals a system’s ability to use energy to produce heated air over one season. High-efficiency systems are rated between 8 and 10 HSPF.
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), also used for central A/C systems, shows the same for the cooling process. High-efficiency cooling systems range between 14 and 18 SEER.
Keep in mind when selecting efficiency ratings that higher-rated systems will produce better energy savings each month, but will cost more initially to purchase.
Advanced features
- Two-speed compressor – This component saves energy during the heating and cooling processes. Single-speed compressors function at full-speed at all times. A system that can adjust its speed will match the output to the weather demands, minute by minute, and day by day.
- Two- or variable-speed motor – An option for your blower fan motors, on both the inside and outside fans, motors with more than one option for speed can optimize comfort, delivering the right amount of conditioned air into your home, and reducing electricity consumption, too.
- Improved coils – To produce conditioned air, a heat pump will send refrigerant through a set of coils. Coils with a greater surface space will more efficiently use refrigerant.
- Thermostat expansion valve (TXV) – A TXV meters the delivery of refrigerant through the coils more efficiently, giving the system control over how much refrigerant it uses.
To maximize your investment in a heat pump, select a system with a high efficiency rating, as well as advanced features that will extend the life of the system and improve operating costs. For help selecting a system, contact Ace Hardware Home Services. Serving homeowners in the Greater Dayton area since 1978.
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, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
