The biggest advantage of heat pumps is extremely high energy efficiency. Obviously, you will have less energy efficient as well as more energy efficient heat pumps. To help you in choosing the best electricity-saving heat pumps, we have tallied up the highest-efficiency heat pumps currently on the market. You can see these highest SEER and … Read more
In 2023, the SEER rating was replaced by the SEER2 rating. Because the now old SEER is numerically not the same as the new SEER2, the old SEER savings calculator cannot be used as the SEER2 savings calculator. To compare air conditioner and heat pump cooling costs in 2023 and onwards, we need to use … Read more
In HVAC, we deal with a lot of energy efficiency ratings. In order to determine energy efficiency as accurately as possible, new metrics are being introduced over time. HSPF2 rating or Heat Seasonal Performance Factor 2 rating is just such an example, and it goes into effect on the 1st of January 2023. This change … Read more
The energy efficiency of heat pumps is expressed in COP (Coefficient Of Performance). On the heat pump’s specs sheets and EnergyGuide labels, however, you will only see HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Because HSPF directly depends on COP, we can easily convert HSPF to COP. Below, you will find these two very useful resources if … Read more
“Heat pumps stop working at 20 degrees.” This is a common myth about heat pump minimum outdoor temperature. At what temperature does a heat pump actually stop working? Never. A heat pump will work even in extremely cold weather (even below freezing temperatures). We will look into the relationship between low temperatures and heat pump … Read more
If you open heat pump specs sheets, you will see the HSPF5 rating and HSPF4 rating. Obviously, we want to know what is the heat pump HSPF rating – denoting the heating energy efficiency – but this HSPF5 vs HSPF4 rating might give us a pause. Let’s explain what both HSPF5 and HSPF4 ratings are … Read more
Heat pump efficiency depends on outdoor temperatures. As we all know, at lower temperatures, heat pumps become less efficient. That’s why we usually use a furnace combo with heat pumps; at freezing temperatures, heat pumps become less effective, and we have to use the furnace for heating. How much does heat pump efficiency drops in … Read more
About 10 years ago, it was unheard of to use a heat pump in cold climates. Today, the best heat pumps for cold weather can operate at below-freezing temperatures. We are going to look into these low-temperature heat pumps and check which are the best mini split heat pumps for cold climates on the market … Read more
Heat pumps are extremely energy efficient. With the known tonnage (or BTUs), the SEER rating, and the HSPF rating, we can calculate almost exactly how much electricity a heat pump use (watts, kWh usage) per hour, per day, and even per month. Based on that, we can calculate how much it costs to run a … Read more
Mini-split heat pumps are the most convenient HVAC units for both heating (winter) and cooling (summer). Mini-split heat pumps can be used as primary or auxiliary heating and cooling units. The reasons why the best-mini split heat pumps are so popular are apparent. These sophisticated units are: Extremely energy-efficient. Units with a SEER rating over … Read more