American Standard’s Best Heat Pumps
We’ve identified the 3 heat pumps that perform the best in 3 key categories: most efficient, quietest, and best value.
If you’re investigating a heat pump system to provide your home with heating and cooling, you may need some background information to help you make an informed decision. You’ll also need to decide what features matter to you the most.
We’ll cover:
What Is a Heat Pump?
Let’s start with the basics and answer that question. An air source heat pump is an HVAC component that uses electricity to heat and cool your home. In the summer, heat pumps act as air conditioners by transporting heat from inside your home, to outside.
In the winter, heat pumps take heat from outside and deposit it into your home. That means the unit can heat your home when it’s cold outside and cool your home as temperatures rise. Some very efficient heat pumps can heat your home in temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
In a split system, a heat pump + air handler or heat pump + furnace provide the cooling and heating. In a heat pump system, the heat pump is the outdoor unit and contains the condenser and the compressor.
The indoor unit is the air handler or in the case of a dual-fuel heat pump system, the indoor unit is a gas furnace. The indoor unit helps circulate the heated or cooled air. A furnace will kick in only when the heat pump cannot effectively heat your home at colder temperatures.
Like an air conditioner, an electric heat pump uses refrigerant to cool your home. But in the colder months, the heat pump reverses the refrigerant cycle to heat your home. This article will focus on ducted heat pumps that are part of a traditional central heating and cooling system.
Just be aware that a mini-split heat pump functions in the same way in a single-zone or multi-zone ductless system.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Heat Pump
A heat pump system can be an energy-saving solution to heating and cooling your home. To ensure you get the right system, consider the following factors: size, efficiency, sound level, and cost.
Let’s take a look.
Sizing
One of the most important things, if not the most important thing when investing in an HVAC system is that it is sized properly for your home. Heat pumps and AC units are measured in tons - which refers to the capacity of the unit, rather than the weight.
While the table below can give you a ballpark idea of what size heat pump you need, you should get several quotes from HVAC contractors. Don’t just assume you need the same size unit that you are replacing. The contractor should take measurements, assess the condition of your existing ductwork and insulation, and much more before performing a Manual J load calculation.
Only then should they recommend a specific size. Ask to see the results of the calculation.
| Home size (sq. ft.) | Unit Size (tons) | Unit Size (BTUs) |
| 1000 sq. ft. | 2-ton heat pump | 24,000 BTUs |
| 1250 sq. ft. | 2.5-ton heat pump | 30,000 BTUs |
| 1500 sq. ft. | 3-ton heat pump | 36,000 BTUs |
| 1750 2q. ft. | 3.5-ton heat pump | 42,000 BTUs |
| 2000 sq. ft. | 4-ton heat pump | 48,000 BTUs |
| 2500 sq. ft. | 5-ton heat pump | 60,000 BTUs |
Efficiency Ratings
Electric heat pump systems are one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat and cool your home while reducing carbon emissions. That’s the main reason the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax incentives and rebates.
The federal government (and states) want to encourage homeowners to transition to all-electric heating and cooling. But those clean energy tax credits and rebates are mainly available on ENERGY STAR®-qualified systems. That means to qualify, a heat pump must meet or exceed certain energy efficiency standards. Work with your dealer to find a system that qualifies.
SEER2
SEER2 stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The 2 was added when efficiency standards were raised in 2023. SEER2 measures a cooling unit’s efficiency throughout the cooling season. Split system heat pumps must have a minimum SEER2 of 14.3 or higher.
To qualify for the ENERGY STAR® rating, the heat pump must have a SEER2 of 15.2 or higher.
HSPF2
HSPF2 stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. Again, the 2 was added when energy efficiency standards were raised in 2023. HSPF2 measures a heat pump’s heating efficiency during the fall and winter months. Split system heat pumps must have a minimum HSPF2 of 7.5 or higher.
To qualify for the ENERGY STAR® rating, in addition to having a SEER2 of 15.2 or higher, it must also have an HSPF2 of 7.8 or higher.
The ratings are slightly different for packaged heat pumps.
Sound Level
If the outdoor unit will be just outside the nursery window, how loud (or quiet) the unit is can be a big factor. Noise level may also be regulated depending on where your home is located. In heat pumps, moving parts like fans and motors are responsible for the sound the unit makes while running.
Heat pumps and air conditioners are rated with a Nominal Sound Level - the average sound level in decibels. The higher the number, the louder the unit. For example:
25 dBA = A whisper
40 dBA = Refrigerator hum
43-57 dBA = Our quietest heat pump
60 dBA = Normal conversation
70 dBA = Washing machine or dishwasher
Heat Pump Cost
Your heat pump replacement cost will vary depending on the efficiency ratings, system capacity, and where you live, among other factors. Certain efficient systems can qualify for additional savings, including:
- Federal heat pump tax credit of up to $2,000
- Upcoming state heat pump rebates
- Local utility heat pump rebate
Your local HVAC professional can help you choose a system that is right for your home and help you find qualifying equipment to take advantage of all of the energy-efficiency incentives.
HVAC System Replacement
In most situations, when you install a new heat pump, you should expect to install a new air handler or furnace to complete a matched system. Full HVAC system replacement will help ensure your system runs at the promised performance level. Some energy efficiency incentives may require a matched system.
While replacing only one component may be the least expensive option, it can cause early failure of your system, because a mismatched system can work harder to heat and cool your home.
Your total system cost will increase if you need new ductwork because your existing ductwork is leaky (a new system won’t be as efficient as its ratings if you have a leaky duct system).
You may wish to consider HVAC financing through your dealer to help manage your heat pump system installation cost. Other options include a personal loan or a home equity loan.
Now that you know more about heat pumps, let’s get to the moment you’ve been waiting for - American Standard’s Best Heat Pumps.
Most Efficient - AccuComfort™ Platinum 20 Heat Pump
The AccuComfort™ Platinum 20 Heat Pump is our most efficient model and a top seller.
Top features include:
- SEER2 of up to 20.5
- HSPF2 up to 8.1
- ENERGY STAR®-qualified
- Energy savings of up to 50% over an older comparable system
- Variable-speed fan motor
- Consistent within ½ of a degree
- American Standard Link Connectivity
- AccuLink™ Communicating Technology
- Duration™ compressor stages -750
- All-aluminum Spine Fin™ coil
- Durabase™ base pan
- Compressor sound insulator
- Nominal sound of 54-76 dBA
- Available in 2, 3, 4, and 5-ton models
- 12-year limited warranty on compressor, 10-year limited warranty on outdoor coil and functional parts with registration
When paired with a matched air handler or furnace, this highly efficient heat pump offers precise comfort and energy savings.
Quietest - Platinum 19 Low-Profile Heat Pump
The Platinum 19 Low-Profile Heat Pump is our quietest heat pump. This side-discharge unit was specifically designed for densely populated urban areas that require a low-profile design. At the same time, we designed it to be ultra-quiet to meet or exceed low sound requirements that exist in cities with strict sound regulations.
Top features include:
- Nominal sound of 43-57 dBA
- SEER2 up to 19
- HSPF2 up to 9
- ENERGY STAR®-qualified
- Energy savings up to 49% when compared to an older system
- Variable-speed fan motor
- Duration™ compressor stages 500-700+
- AccuLink™ Communicating Technology
- Plate fin
- 10-year limited warranty on compressor, outdoor coil, and functional parts with registration
Best Value - Silver 15 Heat Pump
The Silver 15 Heat Pump gets the title of Best Value because of its high-efficiency ratings and lower price point. Top features include:
- Lower price point
- SEER2 up to 16.5
- HSPF2 up to 8.5
- ENERGY STAR®-qualified
- Energy savings of up to 41% when compared to an older comparable model
- Single-stage fan motor
- All-aluminum Spine Fin™ coil
- Durabase™ base pan
- 10-year limited warranty on compressor, outdoor coil, and functional parts with registration
Ultimately, the best heat pump system for your home is one that is properly sized, has the efficiency ratings you want, and fits your budget.
Why Choose an American Standard Heat Pump
American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning is the top choice for dealers and homeowners who won’t settle for less than the most well-engineered and trusted equipment. Each piece of equipment utilizes premium materials and leverages innovative technology to deliver the best in heating and air conditioning.
SEET Tested™
SEET stands for System Extreme Environmental Test. It’s when we expose our equipment to harsh conditions and situations. We push our systems to the limit and run them for eight consecutive two-week sessions. That adds up to 2,600 hours of continuous testing - a year’s worth of wear and tear concentrated into four months.
To earn our reputation for well-engineered equipment, we freeze, broil, stress, drop, shock, expose, and listen to our equipment – redesigning and retesting until it proves its reliability — because if it’s going to carry the American Standard name off the line, it has to be built to last.
Our commitment to excellence is why we continually rate in the top 10 in the Most Trusted™ HVAC Brands survey.
Set Up a Free Quote for Heat Pump Installation
Contact your local American Standard dealer to set up a free onsite quote for heat pump installation. Whether you need heat pump replacement or you want to upgrade your heating and cooling system with an American Standard heat pump to replace a furnace + AC system, work with our network of HVAC professionals.
For over 100 years, we’ve designed and manufactured some of the most awarded, well-engineered heating and cooling equipment and earned a reputation for doing things right.
Browse our heat pumps.
Anne Fonda
Content Writer, Trane Technologies
A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.
She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.
When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.
Expert review by Mark Woodruff, Senior Product Manager, Ducted Outdoor
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