How to rate heat pumps

Ratings systems can help you select the best heat pump for your budget and your family.

You only need to learn a couple acronyms or abbreviations, part of the lingo of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.)

Start with HSPF, the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. It tells you how efficiently a heat pump can keep your home warm and comfortable.

Then, look for its counterpart, SEER, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This measure tells you how efficiently that same heat pump will keep your home cool and comfortable.

In both cases, the higher the rating, the better the system.

You also may want to see if the heat pump has an

ENERGY STAR Rating. The Environmental Protection Agency uses this rating system to grade the energy efficiency of heat pumps.

Lighthouse HVAC installs and services heat pumps in homes and businesses in Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.