Heat pumps provide a great way to keep your home warm during mild Yuma area winters and cool during our extremely long and hot summers. They work like a high-efficiency air conditioner in the summer, pulling hot air out so you can stay comfortable in your home. Then, in the winter, they pump warm air in with incredible efficiency. Since it usually stays in the 40s at night during the winter in Yuma, you don’t need to worry about the backup heating element kicking on and consuming more energy than during regular operation.
When shopping around for a new heat pump, there are two ratings that matter: SEER (seasonal 
energy efficiency ratio) and HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor). Here’s a look at what each one means.
- SEER: This rating is given to heat pumps to indicate how efficiently they can keep your home cool in the summer. It’s calculated by taking the total heat removed from a space divided by the amount of electricity required to do so over the whole season. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the heat pump and (usually) the higher the initial cost. The potential savings of high-efficiency systems, however, increase the more you use them, and of course, in our hot, desert climate, you’ll be using your heat pump all the time. Look for SEER 14 and higher for a heat pump that qualifies for the federal Energy Star label.
- HSPF: In the winter, you’ll appreciate a high HSPF rating to keep your home comfortable through cool nights. It’s calculated by taking the total space heating required divided by the electrical energy consumed over the heating season. Heat pumps with an HSPF rating of between 8 and 10 will provide excellent heating efficiency at a reasonable purchase price.
Since Southwest Arizona requires far more cooling than heating throughout the year, the SEER rating should hold much greater weight in your purchasing decision. For help selecting the right heat pump for your home, please contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company today.
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.
Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Co services the Yuma area in Arizona. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
