Heat Pumps: Efficient and Convenient
“President Biden should immediately invoke the Defense Production Act to get American manufacturers to start producing electric heat pumps in quantity, so we can ship them to Europe where they can be installed in time to dramatically lessen Putin’s power.”-Bill McKibben
Heat Pumps are three to four times more efficient than furnaces.
These devices heat homes in winter and cool them in summer by moving heat in and out of buildings, rather than by burning fossil fuel.
When shopping for efficient heat pumps for your house, what qualities should one look for while making your decision?
Before discussing the top heat pump brands, here are the details of sizing a heat pump, heat pump energy efficiency and energy cost savings for more efficient heat pumps.
What Size Heat Pump Do I Need?
Capacity Btu Size Cooling Square Foot Heating Square Foot
1.5 Ton 18,000 Btu 900 sq ft 600 sq ft
2 Ton 24,000 Btu 1,200 sq ft 800 sq ft
2.5 Ton 30,000 Btu 1,500 sq ft 1,000 sq ft
3 Ton 36,000 Btu 1,800 sq ft 1,200 sq ft
3.5 Ton 42,000 Btu 2,100 sq ft 1,400 sq ft
4 Ton 48,000 Btu 2,400 sq ft 1,600 sq ft
5 Ton 60,000 Btu 3,000 sq ft 2,000 sq ft
Heat pump efficiency
Heat pump efficiency ranges from 13 SEER to 24+ SEER for AC and from about 8.0 HSPF to 13.0 HSPF for heating. That’s quite a range – a 13 SEER unit is just 55% as efficient as a 24+ SEER unit.
Heat pump energy efficiency SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the unit's SEER rating the more energy efficient it is. In the U.S., the SEER is the ratio of cooling in (BTUs) to the energy consumed in watt-hours.
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) is a heating efficiency rating for heat pumps. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump.
Single Stage vs Two Stage vs Variable Stage
Single stage or 1-stage heat pumps run at full capacity all the time. Pros: More affordable and best for mild climates. Cons: They don’t remove as much humidity during AC cycles, and they create slight temperature swings. In other words, climate control is a weak point. And for most brands, about 16 SEER is the most efficient single-stage model they make.
Two stage or 2-stage heat pumps have a low and high capacity level. Low is usually 65% or 70% of capacity.
Pros: They’re a good blend of efficiency, performance and reasonable cost. They are among the best heat pumps overall and especially for moderate and very warm/quite cold climates.
Cons: They cost more than single-stage units and aren’t as efficient as variable capacity.
Variable-capacity heat pumps aka modulating heat pumps run at a range of capacities from either 25% to 100% or 40% to 100% depending on the brand.
Pros: They deliver the best climate control.
Cons: They are by far the most expensive to buy and to repair when necessary.
The information rich introduction is over and now we can delve into the nuts & bolts of shopping for a heat pump.
The 11 best heat pump brands are:
Trane
American Standard
Carrier
Bryant
Lennox
Armstrong Air
AirEase
Payne
York
Luxaire
Coleman
Brand: Trane
The Trane heat pumps are one of the most highly rated by consumers. One of the qualities that make them such as favorite among consumers is their efficiency. Trane heat pumps have some of the highest SEER ratings. Their newest models have a SEER rating of between 18 and 20. Although there may be heat pumps with a slightly higher SEER rating, none is as quiet as a Trane.
Compressor: 2-Separated
Model: XL20i SEER: 19 HSPF: 10
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: XB13 SEER: 14 HSPF: 8
Model: XL15i SEER: 16.25 HSPF: 9.6
Model: XL16i/ SEER: 17 HSPF: 9.6
Model: XR13 SEER: 14.5 HSPF: 8
Model: XR14 SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: XR15 SEER: 16 HSPF: 9.5
Model: XR16 Low Profile SEER: 17 HSPF: 10
Compressor: Two-Stage
Model: XL18i SEER: 18 HSPF: 9.5
Model: XR17 SEER: 17.25 HSPF: 9.6
Compressor: Variable
Model: XV18 SEER: 18 HSPF: 10
Model: XV19 SEER: 19.5 HSPF: 10
Model: XV20i SEER: 20 HSPF: 10
Brand: American Standard
American Standard has been an innovative brand through the years and has a track record for reliability that is better than average. AccuComfort is American Standard’s variable-capacity compressor technology.
While most compressors have one (100%) or two stages (70% & 100%) of operation, the Platinum 20 and Platinum 18 heat pumps have 750 stages from 25% to 100% of capacity.
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: Silver 14 SEER: 14.5 HSPF: 9.2
Model: Silver 15 SEER: 16 HSPF: 9.2
Model: Silver 16 SEER: 17 HSPF: 9.2
Model: Silver 16 Low Profile SEER: 17 HSPF: 9.2
Compressor: Two-Stage
Model: Gold 17 SEER: 17 HSPF: 9.2
Compressor: Variable
Model: Platinum 18 SEER: 18 HSPF: 9.2
Model: Platinum 20 SEER: 21 HSPF: 9.2
Brand: Carrier
Carrier has been an HVAC industry leader for over 100 years, and their innovative engineering and manufacturing capabilities are reflected in three distinct series of heat pumps designed to meet every budget level and performance expectation.
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: 25HCC5 SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Model: 25HCD3 SEER: 13 HSPF: 7.7
Model: 25HCE4 SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Compressor: Two-Stage
Model: 25HNB6**C SEER: 17.5 HSPF: 9.5
Model: 25HNB6/ SEER: 17.5 HSPF: 9.5
Model: 25HNB9 SEER: 19 HSPF: 10
Model: 25HNH5 SEER: 15.5 HSPF: 9.5
Model: 25VNA9 SEER: 19 HSPF: 10
Compressor: Variable
Model: 25HNB5 SEER: 16 HSPF: 8.5
Model: 25VNA0 SEER: 20.5 HSPF: 13
Model: 25VNA8 SEER: 18 HSPF: 11
Brand: Bryant
The Bryant Company has a number of product lines under the Bryant heat pumps. These are the Legacy, which is the value brand, Preferred Compact, Preferred, and Evolution. The Evolution is Bryant’s premium heat pump line and has the highest level of efficiency.
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: Evolution285BNH SEER: 15.5 HSPF: 9.5
Model: Legacy213C SEER: 13 HSPF: 7.7
Model: Legacy25HCD3 SEER: 13 HSPF: 7.7
Model: Preferred223A SEER: 13 HSPF: 7.7
Model: Preferred225B SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Compressor: Two-Stage
Model: Evolution289B SEER: 19 HSPF: 10
Model: Preferred226A SEER: 17.5 HSPF: 9.5
Compressor: Variable
Model: Evolution 280A SEER: 20.5 HSPF: 13
Brand: Lennox
Lennox is one of the leading manufacturers of equipment for improving indoor comfort. In addition to being extremely energy efficient, Lennox has also worked hard to make their products some of the quietest.
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: 14PHX SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: SL18XP1 SEER: 18.5 HSPF: 10.2
Model: XP14 SEER: 16 HSPF: 9.5
Model: XP17 SEER: 17.7 HSPF: 9.5
Compressor: Two-Stage
Model: XP16 SEER: 16.5 HSPF: 9.5
Model: XP21 SEER: 19.2 HSPF: 9.7
Compressor: Variable
Model: XP20 SEER: 20 HSPF: 10
Model: XP25 SEER: 23.5 HSPF: 10.2
Brand: Armstrong Air & AirEase
Armstrong Air and Ducane are brands owned by Allied Air, a manufacturer of residential and commercial HVAC equipment. Allied Air is owned by Lennox International. However, Armstrong Air and Ducane products are not identical to Lennox-branded heat pumps. FYI, the Air Ease brand is another Allied Air brand, and it has an identical lineup to Armstrong Air.
Compressor: 2-stage
Model: Pro Series 4SHP16LS SEER: 16 HSPF: 8.5
Compressor: Single-stage
Model: 4SHP13LB SEER: 14 HSPF: 7.7
Model: 4SHP13LE SEER: 14 HSPF: 77
Model: 4SHP14LB SEER: 15 HSPF: 8.5
Model: 4SHP15LE SEER: 15 HSPF: 8.5
Compressor: Variable
Model: Pro Series 4SHP20LX SEER: 20 HSPF: 10
Brand: Payne
A Payne heat pump is an attractive choice for homeowners looking for value. They offer quality and average efficiency at a competitive cost. As a sister brand to Carrier and Bryant, parts are readily available, so when repairs are needed, they are often made the same day or next day.
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: PH14NB SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.5
Model: PH15NB SEER: 15.5 HSPF: 9
Model: PH16NC SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Compressor: Two-Stage
Model: PH16NA SEER: 17 HSPF: 9.5
Brand: York
The York brand is nearly 150 years old and has stood for HVAC engineering and innovation. Today, York heat pumps are identical in all but name to Johnson Control brands Coleman and Luxaire.
Compressor: 2-Stage
Model: Affinity YZH SEER: 18 HSPF: 10
Compressor: Single-Stage
Model: Affinity YZF SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Model: LX YHE SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: LX YHJF SEER: 14.5 HSPF: 8.5
Compressor: Variable
Model: Affinity YZV SEER: 20 HSPF: 11
Model: LX YHM SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Brand: Luxaire Model
Luxaire Climate Sync and Coleman Climate Connect are identical technologies. Luxaire’s literature says, “perfectly tuned to the outdoor environment in which they are located. Humid, dry or normal condition settings allow contractors to set up systems accurately [to] maximize overall efficiency and provide improved homeowner comfort.”
Compressor: Single-stage
Model: Acclimate HL6B SEER: 16 HSPF: 9.5
Model: LX TH16 SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Model: LX TH4 SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: LX THJD SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: LX THJF SEER: 14.5 HSPF: 8.5
Compressor: Two-stage
Model: Acclimate HL8B SEER: 18 HSPF: 10
Compressor: Variable
Model: Acclimate HL20 SEER: 20 HSPF: 11
Brand: Coleman Model
Coleman and Luxaire brands are owned by Fortune Global 500 company Johnson Controls. These two brands sell identical lineups except for the name on the components. York HVAC is also an identical brand.
Compressor: Single-stage
Model: Echelon HC6B SEER: 16 HSPF: 9.5
Model: LX CH16 SEER: 16 HSPF: 9
Model: LX TH4 SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: LX THJD SEER: 14 HSPF: 8.2
Model: LX THJF SEER: 14.5 HSPF: 8.5
Compressor: Two-stage
Model: Echelon HC8B SEER: 18 HSPF: 10
Compressor: Variable
Model: Echelon HC20 SEER: 20 HSPF: 11
