What Does an HSPF Rating Mean, and Why Is It Important?

We use many acronyms in the heating and cooling industry, which can get confusing for the average homeowner. If you’re shopping for a new heat pump, you probably wonder what an HSPF rating is? HSPF stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, which is one of the measures used to show a heat pump’s efficiency.

What Is HSPF Rating?

An HSPF rating is the measure that shows a heat pump’s heating energy efficiency. The HSPF measure is a ratio of the heat pump’s total heat output per an entire heating season (in BTUs, or British Thermal Units) compared to the total amount of electricity it consumes (in watt-hours).

Range of HSPF Ratings

The higher the HSPF rating, the more efficient the heat pump is. The more efficient a unit, the less energy it will use to effectively heat the home, resulting in reduced electricity bills and increased energy savings.

In the United States, new heat pumps must meet minimum HSPF requirements. What are HSPF rating requirements for new heat pumps? As of 2015, the Department of Energy requires all newly manufactured heat pumps to have a minimum HSPF of 8.2. In 2023, that minimum will increase to 8.8 HSPF.

While 8.2 is the minimum HSPF allowable under today’s laws, there are heat pumps on the market that go up to 13 HSPF. ENERGY STAR-qualified heat pumps must be at or above 8.5 HSPF for split-system heat pumps and at or above 8.2 HSPF for single-packaged units, while also meeting specific requirements for cooling efficiency.

Choosing the Right HSPF for Your Home 

Like other types of heating and cooling equipment, energy efficiency usually has an effect on price – the higher the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, the more expensive the heat pump, in most cases. However, the more efficient a unit, the more you stand to save on energy expenses, so it’s important to weigh your options when you look at what an HSPF rating means for your home.

With HSPF efficiency ratings, you can compare the savings potential of different heat pumps. Take the annual heating energy cost of the unit and subtract the annual heating energy cost of your existing unit to see how much you stand to save in energy expenses.

When you invest in a higher HSPF heat pump, you want to be sure you’ll use the unit long enough to take advantage of its payback period. The payback period is the amount of time it takes for the unit to pay for itself in reduced energy costs. To determine the payback period, divide the cost of the new heat pump and its installation by the annual savings it produces versus your current system. If you don’t plan to live at your current home for the number of years it will take to achieve the payback period, you may want to choose a heat pump with a lower HSPF, though it will have higher energy costs than the higher HSPF unit.

Contact Hans for Heat Pump Repair and Installation

Still wondering which HSPF rating is right for you? Call Hans Heating & Air today to learn more about heat pump efficiency and how to select the perfect new unit for your Montgomery home.