Comparing heat pumps can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the efficiency ratings used for this type of HVAC equipment. Heat pumps are equipped with a reversing valve that allows them to switch operation between heating and cooling, so they have efficiency ratings for both functions. Here’s a brief primer on what the different heat pump ratings mean:
- Seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) measures a heat pump’s efficiency when it’s in cooling mode. It’s used for both split-system and ductless mini-split air source heat pumps. Today, the minimum efficiency available is SEER 13, and you can find highly-efficient units with SEER ratings as high as 23. The SEER rating tells you the heat pump’s efficiency over a single cooling season, and it represents the total British thermal units (Btu) of heat the unit removes divided by the number of kilowatt hours of energy used to remove it.
- Heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) tells you the cold weather energy efficiency of an air source heat pump. HSPF is a measurement of how many Btu of heat the unit produces over a single heating season divided by amount of energy consumed, in kilowatt hours. Ratings range from HSPF 7.7 up to 10.2.
- Energy efficiency rating (EER) is used to measure the efficiency of a geothermal heat pump cooling a 95-degree space for a one-hour period, and it tells you the Btu of cooling provided for each watt of electricity used. Equipment on the market today ranges from a minimum of EER 13 up to a highly-efficient EER 39.
- Coefficient of performance (COP) ratings measure the efficiency of geothermal heat pumps. The rating represents the ratio of heat output for the energy consumed, which tells you how many units of heat are produced for each unit of electricity the equipment uses. COPs can range from two to 5.5, and a higher rating indicates a more efficient heat pump.
If you’d like to learn more about heat pump ratings, or you need expert advice about the right type of heat pump for your Lorain home, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Palto/Shutterstock”
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area