4 Heat Pump Efficiency Terms Every Homeowner Should Know

One of the most efficient ways to heat and cool your Northwest Arkansas home is to invest in a heat pump. The warm climate of the south adds to heat pump efficiency, meaning it could be the perfect upgrade this summer. As you shop around and compare different models, there are four heat pump efficiency terms with which you should become familiar so that you can be an educated consumer:

• SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio): This is the primary rating given to heat pumps to measure cooling efficiency in the summer. It is the total amount of cooling energy that a heat pump produces compared to the total electrical energy that it consumes, averaged over an entire cooling season. A SEER rating of 14 or higher is desirable if you want the best heat pump efficiency possible.
• EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio): This rating is similar to SEER, but instead of being averaged over the entire season, the rating is determined by taking the total amount of cooling energy provided compared to the energy that the heat pump consumes at a specific temperature. A high EER rating ensures a cool home on the hottest summer afternoon.
• HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor): This is the primary rating given to heat pumps to measure heating efficiency in the winter. It is similar to SEER, except it measures the amount of heat added to a space. The rating is averaged over the entire heating season, and is similar to the rating given to fuel-fired heating systems. Look for an HSPF of 8 or higher for optimal heat pump efficiency.
• COP (Coefficient of Performance): This tells the heat pump’s efficiency overall, taking the energy output divided by the electrical input required to run the heat pump at a certain temperature. Like the other ratings, the higher the COP is, the more efficient the heat pump is.

For help selecting the right heat pump for your home, based on efficiency and other factors, please contact Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We’ve proudly served customers in Northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pump efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Paschal Heating, Air & Geothermal services Northwest Arkansas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!