A Frigidaire heat pump can replace your existing AC system, giving you more control over the temperature inside your home.
If you live in the right part of the country where the climate can properly accommodate it, a heat pump can be an excellent option when you’re looking for central heating and air conditioning for you home.
Air conditioning?
Yes, the heat pump is a versatile option that can provide efficient heating and cooling to your home. While there are many reliable options to choose from when considering a heat pump for your home, Frigidaire heat pumps can be a very affordable replacement for your existing AC system (or an upgrade to the system you currently have.) Frigidaire can give you more control over the temperature inside your home and deliver some surprising efficiencies along the way.
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Some heat pump basics
To understand what you’re comparing when you start to look at Frigidaire heat pumps alongside other options for heating and cooling your home, you should understand some basics of how a heat pump works. Essentially, a heat pump transfers air from one space to another. In the case of using a heat pump for heating purposes, it’s transferring (pumping) the warmer air from one space to a space where there is cooler air. In the case of a cooling function, it’s pumping the cooler air from one space into the spaces (rooms) where it’s warmer.
There are two, major types of heat pumps:
Geothermal heat pumps – these units rely on the relatively constant temperature of the earth to draw warmer air in the cooler months and cooler air in the warmer months. These types of heat pumps can prove to be less efficient in regions where severe weather swings occur or where it gets cold enough for surface and sub-surface soil to freeze.
Air-source heat pumps – are units that rely on a separate source to generate heat or coolant to produce the desired air flow (usually a gas or electric fired coolant system or core.)
Heat pumps are evaluated and graded on two efficiency scales: one for heating and one for cooling. The heating scale used to measure a heat pump is referred to as the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) and heat pumps that deliver HSPF rating between 8 and 10 are considered to be the most efficient. The cooling scale used to grade heat pumps is similar to the one used for air conditioners, the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating. The federal government requires that any air conditioning unit currently sold in the U.S. deliver a SEER rating of at least 13 and for any unit, the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient and cost-effective it will be.
Frigidaire heat pump options
When it comes to residential heat pumps available from Frigidaire, there are 12 separate models to choose from:
- 3 referred to as packaged systems (the Q6SD, the Q7RD and the Q5RF)
- 1 hybrid system (the DF6SF)
- ET and FT models linked to SEER rating and HSPF rating numbers:
- 14 SEER/ 8.5 HSPF – FT4BD and ET4BD
- 15 SEER/8.5 HSPF – FT4BE and ET4BE
- 16 SEER/9HSPF – FT4BF and ET4BF
- Frigidaire’s top-end iQ Drive models:
- 19 SEER/10 HSPF
- 22 SEER/10 HSPF
Even the lower-end packaged heat pumps from Frigidaire feature performance enhancing elements like extra corrosion protection for the exterior finish and coil and low-energy use backup heat strips.
In addition to the immediate energy savings a high-performing heat pump can deliver, eight of the residential heat pumps available from Frigidaire have received ENERGY STAR status. ENERGY STAR is a program developed and managed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify products that voluntarily meet higher standards for energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases. For example, while the minimum SEER rating allowed by the federal government for any new central air conditioning unit sold in the U.S. (including residential heat pumps) is 13, to earn an ENERGY STAR label, the unite must at least reach a 15 SEER rating. (In fact, for 2014, Frigidaire’s 22 SEER/10HSPF iQ Drive model received a Most Efficient in its Class designation from ENERGY STAR as well as a Best Buy rating from Consumers’ Digest.)
Prices and warranties
Determining what the actual cost of any residential, central air conditioning system can be a challenge. Manufacturers rarely list retail (or even contractor wholesale) prices on websites and even if they did, that wouldn’t give you the total picture. Unless you are a licensed HVAC contractor, you’re going to have to rely on the services of a local, licensed contractor for the installation and proper maintenance of your system. If you select to go with a Frigidaire heat pump, you’ll also need to be sure you use a contractor registered to work with Frigidaire products in order to properly validate the excellent warranties that come with Frigidaire heat pumps.
One generalization that can be made about any heat pump is that it will likely be more expensive than any comparable air conditioning only system. Don’t let that immediately deter you from considering one. When you weigh the extra efficiencies of having a single system delivering both heating and cooling to your home, the first-blush increase in price may not be so bad.
Industry reviews and surveys routinely place Frigidaire in the “affordable” category of heat pumps with some models priced thousands (or even tens of thousands) of dollars below some competitors.
.jpg "Frigidaire offers some of the more generous warranties with its line of residential heat pumps")
You’ll find the Frigidaire website to be very helpful when it comes to gleaning information you may need to make a decision. They provide detailed specifications of each model and a buying guide to help you understand how to make a proper comparison. They also have a Help Me Choose section where you can plug in details about your living arrangements and HVAC needs, resulting in a nice line-up of “Ideal”, “Mid-Range” and “Value” system options.
Frigidaire offers a 10-year warranty that covers all of the parts in your heat pump and a second 10-year warranty called the Comfort Pledge. The Comfort Pledge ensures that if your compressor or your heat exchanger fails within the first 10 years of ownership, the company will replace that part for free. If you purchase a packaged system from Frigidaire and properly register it, they will extend the standard 20-yea heat exchanger warranty that comes with it to a limited lifetime warranty.
You must register your Frigidaire heat pump on the company's website after purchasing the pump and having it properly installed. If you don't register the unit, your warranty is only good for one year (and there is a timeline for registering.) If you wish, Frigidaire sells extended warranties that can extend the coverage on your unit. When you add extended coverage to your plan, you'll never pay out of pocket for labor costs or any other repair costs.
A heat pump can make your life a lot easier. Reply! can help you find local contractors you can trust to properly install heat pumps, air conditioning units and other necessary HVAC devices. It is always a good idea to get competitive quotes and bid from several contractors (we recommend at least three) so you get the best pricing available in your area.