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Heat Pumps
A heat pump is like a two-way air conditioner. It works like an AC, pulling heat out of your home to keep it cool. In the winter, it does the opposite—pulling heat from the outside air (even when it’s cold) and bringing it inside to warm your home. It’s an energy-efficient way to heat and cool your house using electricity instead of burning fuel like a furnace.
What to Look for in a Heat Pump?
When you start shopping for a heat pump, there are a few things you need to look for. First, manufacturers rate the efficiency of most heat pumps in two ways: SEER and HSPF ratings. Higher SEER and HSPF ratings indicate a more efficient unit.
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SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency rating, and is a ratio of how much energy (measured in BTUs) is pumped outside in cooling mode divided by the electricity used (in watts) for cooling. Look for a SEER rating between 14 and 18.​
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HSPF stands for heating seasonal performance factor. It calculates the ratio of energy pumped indoors for heating to energy used for heating, but it's a more complicated equation than the SEER rating because it also takes into account supplemental heating needs and the energy used to defrost the unit. Look for an HSPF rating between eight and 10.
