Seer Ratings For Heat Pumps May 2026

Here’s the twist the Martins missed: It’s like judging a winter coat by how well it works in a rainstorm.

The Martin’s 22 SEER unit had a terrible (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor)—only 8.2. It was a cooling machine that could sort-of heat. For Vermont winters, they needed a cold-climate heat pump with an HSPF above 10 and a low-temperature rating. SEER had nothing to do with it. Act III: The Neighbor’s Counter-Story Across the street lived the Chens. They’d installed a heat pump the same week. Their unit was only 18 SEER —four points lower than Mark’s. seer ratings for heat pumps

Mark asked Mr. Chen, “But isn’t 18 SEER worse than my 22?” Here’s the twist the Martins missed: It’s like

At 25°F, the air from the vents turned tepid—not cold, but not the toasty blast they expected from their old oil furnace. At 15°F, the unit started running constantly. At 5°F, it simply stopped heating effectively and switched to emergency electric resistance heat. For Vermont winters, they needed a cold-climate heat