What is HSPF2?
Plain-English explanation from a licensed Utah HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractor.
HSPF2 is the heating-efficiency rating of a heat pump, it measures how many BTUs of heat it delivers per watt-hour of electricity over a winter heating season.
Full Definition
HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, version 2 test standard adopted in 2023) is the heating equivalent of SEER for heat pumps. It expresses total seasonal heating output in BTUs divided by total electric energy consumed in watt-hours. Federal minimum for new split-system heat pumps in Utah's northern zone is HSPF2 7.5. Cold-climate heat pumps rated for sustained operation below 5°F typically score HSPF2 8.5-10.
At Utah's electricity and natural gas prices, an HSPF2 9.0 cold-climate heat pump costs roughly the same per BTU of heat as a 96% AFUE gas furnace down to about 25°F. Below that, the gas furnace usually wins, which is why dual-fuel systems are common on the Wasatch Front.
Common Questions
Can a heat pump heat a home in Utah winters?
Yes, modern cold-climate (CCHP) inverter heat pumps maintain 75-80% of their nameplate capacity down to 5°F. Most Utah homes pair a heat pump with a backup gas furnace (dual-fuel) for the coldest 10-15 days a year.
What's the difference between HSPF and HSPF2?
HSPF2 uses higher external static pressure in testing, so the same equipment scores about 15% lower on HSPF2 than HSPF. An old 9.0 HSPF heat pump is roughly equivalent to a 7.65 HSPF2 unit under the new standard.
Related Terms
Heat Pump
A heat pump is an electric HVAC system that moves heat instead of generating it, it cools your home in summer like an AC and heats it in winter by running the refrigerant cycle in reverse.
SEER
SEER is the cooling-efficiency rating of an air conditioner or heat pump, the higher the SEER number, the less electricity it uses per ton of cooling delivered over a typical Utah summer.
Recent HVAC work in Utah
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