Heat Pump - Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is "SEER"?
The seasonal energy efficiency ratio is the amount of cooling that a heat pump
(or air conditioner) delivers per every dollar spent on electricity. In other
words, a higher SEER unit uses less electricity. A 12 SEER unit uses ½ the
electricity of an old 6 SEER unit. After January 1, 1992, the minimum SEER
allowed in our industry for residential equipment is 10.
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2. What is "HSPF"?
The heating seasonal performance factor is similar to SEER, but it measures the
efficiency of the heating portion of your heat pump. The minimum HSPF allowed
for a residential heat pump is 6.8. The most efficient HSPF that I have found
in 1999 is 9.25. A small difference in the HSPF number can represent both a
savings on the amount of electricity and the temperature of the air delivered
by the heat pump in the heating cycle.
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3. How important is SEER?
According to Duke Power Company (Duke Energy), in the Forsyth County area a
heat pump runs approximately 1100 hours in the cooling cycle and approximately
1900 hours in the heating cycle. Since heat is a major requirement for comfort
and since the unit will operate almost twice as often in the heating cycle, I
think it proper that your emphasis be placed upon HEATING efficiency or HSPF.
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4. Do all 12 SEER heat pumps perform
the same?
When comparing different brands of heat pumps, a 12 SEER 3 ton brand "A" will
offer the same COOLING operating costs as a 12 SEER 3 ton brand "B".
However, the total operating cost must include the heating operating costs and
brand "A" may heat more efficiently (higher HSPF) than brand "B".
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5. What is a "ton" of air conditioning?
One ton of air conditioning is 12,000 BTU. A BTU is short for British thermal
unit and is the amount of heat that will raise or lower one pound of water by
one degree Fahrenheit. It is important to note that actual capacity is not
constant and will change based on outdoor or indoor temperature. The published
rating of a unit is based upon capacity when the outdoor temperature is 95
degrees F. and the inside temperature is 80 degrees F.
Also, some manufacturers may call their unit a 3 ton system even though it only
delivers 34,000 BTU. Another manufacturer may be offering 37,000 BTU's with
their 3 ton unit.
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6. How often should filters be cleaned or
replaced?
Filters should be replaced/cleaned once per month. Many "high efficiency" air
filters have a longer useful life. All of the electronic & electrostatic
filters must be cleaned a minimum of once per month. Allowing a filter
to become clogged with dirt will raise the operating costs of the system and
can actually cause damage to the compressor.
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7. Should a thermostat be set to "auto" or
"on"?
When the thermostat is set to "auto", the fan operates only when the
temperature requires it (whenever the cooling unit or heating unit is running).
When set to "on", the fan operates all the time. You may want the fan to run
all the time to do its best possible job of filtering the air.
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8. If the outdoor heat pump
unit needs replacing, can we re-use the old indoor unit?
All manufacturers require that their equipment be installed as a "matched"
system. In fact, many manufacturers state in their literature that they will
void the warranty if an old indoor unit is used.
A new 12 SEER heat pump outdoor unit used with a 15 year old indoor unit will
have an actual operating SEER of approximately 8 or 9. So, you will loose
efficiency and possibly loose warranty by mismatching a system.
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9. What is my "best buy" in a heat pump?
This question will have a different answer based upon the needs of the
purchaser. In the long run, the more efficient heat pump will provide a very
high Return On Investment. For the purchaser who will finance the system, the
high efficient unit is even a better buy. For instance, a higher SEER unit
might cost $1000.00 extra which would add approximately $20.00 to the monthly
payment. However, this high efficiency unit may reduce the power bill between
$15.00 and $20.00 per month on the average. This would immediately make the
better, higher efficiency unit have the same or lower net cost.
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10. Is a heat pump a good unit in this part of
the country?
The earliest heat pump systems were marketed in North and South Carolina
because the climate there was ideal
for a heat pump.
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11. Is a heat pump less efficient in the
summer than a regular air conditioner?
A 12 SEER heat pump and a 12 SEER air conditioner would cost the very same to
operate during the cooling season. There is no difference during the cooling
months.
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12. I've heard a lot about new refrigerants.
What are the facts?
Residential heat pumps and air conditioners contain a refrigerant called R-22
which is classified as an HCFC. This is an environmentally safe and efficient
refrigerant that will be available as long as your new system will last. There
are some rulings being made by the US Environmental Protection Agency which
require changes be made to refrigerants but not until the year 2020.
Manufacturers will be producing units using R-22 until the year 2010 and the
refrigerant itself will be available until 2030.
Manufacturers are testing many new refrigerants (and have been doing so for over
10 years). There are currently two frontrunners as possible replacements for
R-22. One is called R-134 and the other is R-410A. One manufacturer who markets
equipment under three different names has chosen to offer R-410A refrigerant in
some units and they have given this refrigerant a "name"-Puron. No other
manufacturer has taken a chance with this refrigerant because it operates at
higher pressures than R-22. In fact it takes special equipment to work with
Puron because of the higher pressures.
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13. What is the difference in a Manufacturer's
Limited Warranty and an Extended parts and labor Warranty?
A limited warranty covers specific parts (i.e. compressor, coil, electronics,
etc.); therefore, it is limited by the language in the warranty. Extended
warranties are generally purchased in addition to the equipment. Extended
warranties cover all parts and may also include the labor for the service call.
An extended warranty protects you for unexpected and unbudgeted service calls
for the duration of the warranty. Be aware that no warranty includes
maintenance, shipping costs, and related parts (parts not provided by the
manufacturer). Most labor warranties do not include labor for diagnostics. Most
of the better manufacturer's now require proof that routine maintenance has
been performed on the equipment. If a contractor offers a labor or long parts
warranty, you should remember that it is only good as long as the dealer is in
business.
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