With high SEER and HSPF ratings, competitive pricing and energy-efficient product lines, it's easy to see why Carrier is such a popular heat pump brand.
Thanks to the availability of newer, more energy efficient options being made available to consumers, there has been a resurgence of interest in using heat pumps in homes as a source for both cooling and heating. Carrier has always been an innovator in residential HVAC solutions and a Carrier heat pump is a great choice for families in milder, more moderate climates. If you’ve ever considered a heat pump for you home, Carrier has a number of options you should consider.
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About Carrier
In 1902, Willis Carrier collaborated with a number of his fellow engineers working at the Buffalo Forge Company of New York. One result of this collaboration was the invention of the nation’s first modern residential air conditioning system. Leveraging that success, Carrier and six of his collaborators left the forge and formed Carrier Engineering in 1915. Since then the company has grown to offer a wide range of commercial and residential heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. In recent years, Carrier has expanded its selection of heat pumps for residential use. With that expansion has come a number of refinements that make Carrier heat pumps some of the most competitive options for full-service, residential HVAC systems.
Heat pumps 101
One of the reasons whey heat pumps are so efficient and have grown in popularity for residential use is that the concept is pretty simple. Heat pumps essentially circulate air from one area to another. In the case of serving the heating and cooling needs of a home, there are two basic types of heat pumps: geothermal heat pumps and air-source heat pumps.
- Geothermal heat pumps – can be extremely efficient in the right settings as they use the more-constant temperature fluctuations of the earth as a source of constant air. The ground's temperature is warmer than the air above it during winter and cooler than the air above it in summer. Geothermal heat pumps are able to heat, cool, and, if so equipped, supply homes and buildings with hot water.
- Air-source heat pumps – these require a few additional components, including a refrigeration system (usually consisting of a compressor and two coils made of copper tubing – one inside and one outside.) When outdoor temperatures fall below 40°F, electric resistance coils (like the heat coils in a toaster) turn on to provide indoor heating.
Carrier has a nice line of both geothermal and air-source heat pumps you can choose from.
Numerous models to choose from
In keeping with its tradition of offering a broad range of products for homeowners to select from, Carrier has and impressive range of heat pump options available in both general categories: geothermal and air-source. They also offer a few models that can be installed as “split-systems” that take advantage of the efficiency of geothermal applications, while being able to plug in to a separate heat source or air handler should temperature and climate conditions warrant:
Carrier geothermal heat pumps – these are sold under three separate series: the GT-PE Series, the GT-PG Series, the GT-PW Series and the GT-PX Series. The specific models found within each series are as follows:
GT-PE Series
- 50 YPS combination systems
GT-PG Series
- 50YEV
- 50YEH
- 50YED
GT-PW Series
- 50YEW hydronic heat only
- 50YER hyrdonic heating and cooling
- 50TDV
- 50YDH
- 50YDD
- 50YDS combinations systems
In addition to a very broad range of performance specs that can be found within each series, these geothermal heat pumps from Carrier can return additional savings in the form of tax credits and energy savings rebates. The GT-PW Series models offer up to $500 in state and local energy tax credits and rebates. With the GT-PG Series models, families may enjoy as much as $800 in annual energy tax credits and rebates. Models in the GT-PX Series line can deliver an impressive $1,300 in annual energy tax credits and rebates.
All of Carrier’s geothermal heat pumps also carry the ENERGY STAR designation. ENERGY STAR is a program developed and monitored by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that highlights products that deliver a high degree of energy efficiency.
Carrier’s air-source heat pumps – the air-source heat pumps offered by Carrier are sold under series names that pattern themselves after Carrier’s more conventional lines of air conditioning units: the Comfort Series, the Performance Series and the Infinity Series.
The specific models found within each series of Caier air-source heat pumps are as follows:
Comfort Series Heat Pumps:
- Comfort 15
- Comfort 13
- Comfort 13 Coastal
Performance Series Heat Pumps:
- Performance 16
- Performance 15
- Performance 13
- Performance 13-compact
Infinity Series Heat Pumps:
- Infinity 20 (with Greenspeed Intelligence system)
- Infinity 19
- Infinity 16
- Infinity 16 Coastal
- Infinity 15
Just as with Carrier air conditioners, the air-source heat pumps get progressively more efficient, able to deliver higher capacity, and come with a higher price tag as you progress through the series and the number of the units. The efficiency of a heat pump is measured in two ways: its cooling capacity is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating and the heating performance of a heat pump is measured by the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) rating. The federal government requires that any new air conditioning unit sold in the U.S. meet a SEER rating of at least 13 while industry groups and HVAC specification specialists say that heating units with HSPF ratings between 8.5 and 10 are the most efficient. Carrier’s line of air-source heat pumps can claim SEER ratings from a low of 15 to a high that occasionally hits 21 (the average is just over 17.) The HSPF ratings for Carrier’s air-source heat pumps range from a low of 8.8 to a high of 13.
Just as with their geothermal heat pumps, all Carrier air-source heat pumps carry the ENERGY STAR designation and in 2012, the Carrier Infinity 20 (with its greenspeed intelligence system) received ENERGY STAR’s designation as most efficient in its class for that year.
Carrier’s Performance Series air-source heat pumps can help families earn as much as $600 in annual tax credits and rebates. The Infinity Series models can generate just over $2,000 in annual energy tax credits and rebates and the top-end Infinity Series 20 can help a family qualify for nearly $3,000 in annual energy-related credits and rebates.
Pricing and warranties
It is very difficult to get exact pricing on Carrier heart pumps. One reason is that Carrier (like nearly all other HVAC manufacturers) does mot list prices for its units on its website or in its products materials. Even if you can get contractor wholesale prices from other sources or even compare retail prices at some of the home improvement stores that carry Carrier, that won’t give you the full picture. Unless you are a licensed and certified HVAC contractor, you are going to have to rely on a contractor to install your Carrier heat pump. (Using a non-licensed or non-registered contractor can easily void any warranty that comes with your unit.) What you pay will a contractor to install your unit is going to vary from region to region. We can give you a bit of a range of what you will be paying.
A high-efficiency heat pump from Carrier with a SEER rating of up to 20.5 costs about $4,000, while lower-efficiency models range between $1,600 and $4,000 (this does not include installation.) The upfront investment may seem steep compared to the cost of other units, especially HVAC and AC units, but the long-term savings are much greater. You can save thousands each year due to the high efficiency of a quality heat pump.
Warranties for these heat pumps can range from 5-year limited warranties to limited lifetime full replacement warranties. You can also purchase extended warranties for any of these Carrier heat pumps
Installation
When it comes time to hire a contractor, the last thing you want is to struggle to find one who is familiar with the brand of your heat pump. Many contractors will give their clients a discount on Carrier products as well, so it is a great idea to ask for installation estimates that includes the product prior to making a purchase.
Carrier offers multiple warranty plans for its heat pumps and related products, so you can rest assured that your product is backed by the Carrier name.
With high SEER and HSPF ratings, competitive pricing and energy-efficient product lines, it's easy to see why Carrier is such a popular heat pump brand. A Carrier heat pump could be the right addition to your home and a great way to save money on heating costs long term. Let Reply! help you connect with licensed contractors in your area today and receive free estimates.
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