Carrier

Many people don’t know that heat pumps can do more than heat their homes. A heat pump also can cool homes in the summer more efficiently than many air conditioners. Less energy used means lower household bills.

The Carrier company has been around since 1902 and is one of the most trusted brands by consumers. All of their units are air-source heat pumps. An air-source heat pump moves cold air from outside the home to inside in summer (and vice versa in winter) rather than combusting fuel to heat or cool the air.

How do you measure heat pump efficiency? By finding the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) rating, which measures efficiency when in heating mode. The minimum rating allowable HSPF is 7.7 Then the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating measures efficiency when in cooling mode. The minimum SEER rating is 13.

When you’re shopping around for heat pumps, you need to understand not only the available types but what to look for in terms of pricing, warranties, and reviews.

Types of Carrier heat pumps

The range of Carrier heat pumps goes from the lower end of the efficiency spectrum to higher efficiency. All of the Carrier units are durable and built to stand hail, rain, and other natural or human-made threats.

Carrier heat pumps range from single-stage scroll compressors to the option of adding a two-stage or variable-speed scroll compressors to the higher-end models. A single-stage scroll compressor has one setting, “ON,” which means it operates at full capacity or not at all. A two-stage scroll compressor has a low setting and a high setting that allows you to save energy until it’s needed. A variable-speed scroll compressor is the most efficient since it can modulate its power output to the required percentage.

The most affordable unit is louder, although it’s still quiet at 69 decibels, while the highest tier is super quiet at 56 decibels. At this level, it’s quieter than typical conversational speech.

Most Carrier units are ENERGY STAR® Qualified, and all are split-systems with one part inside and the other part outside the home.

Carrier heat pump models

Carrier heat pumps come in three models — Comfort, Performance, and Infinity.

The most affordable model is the Comfort Series, which is also the least efficient. The three Comfort Series units all use single-stage scroll compressors and have excellent cold-weather performance. The highest of the three Comfort heat pumps has up to 15.00 SEER rating and an 8.5 HSPF rating and is the only one in this series that is ENERGY STAR® Qualified.

Next is the Performance Series. The top of this series, the 16, runs on a two-stage scroll compressor, while the lower two, the 14 and 15, use asingle-stage one. Additionally, the 16 is ENERGY STAR® Qualified while the others aren’t. The highest possible SEER rating with the Performance Series is 17.50, and the best HSPF rating is 9.5.

Finally comes the Infinity Series. The Infinity 16 runs on a single-speed compressor, and all of its sizes are ENERGY STAR® Qualified. Higher up the ladder, the Infinity 18VS heat pump operates on a variable-speed compressor, but only specific sizes are ENERGY STAR® Qualified. However, the 18VS has the highest efficiency ratings of 18.00 SEER and 11 HSPF. Also, the 18VS is about 10 decibels quieter than the other two units.

Another unit that is part of the Infinity Series and is the top of the line Carrier offers is the Infinity 20 Heat Pump with Greenspeed Intelligence. All sizes are ENERGY STAR® Qualified. Plus, it gets fantastic 20.50 SEER and 13 HSPF ratings. Greenspeed Intelligence is the company’s adaptable speed technology that allows the system to read the temperature needs of the home precisely.

All Carrier heat pumps come with the option of adding a WiFi-connected thermostat, and the highest tier has the option to have Infinity® Touch Control installed.

Carrier heat pump pricing

Carrier doesn’t release the exact pricing of its units, but it does provide a pricing hierarchy. A new ducted heat pump with installation can cost anywhere from $5,600 to $10,000 on average.

What factors can cause Carrier heat pump prices to go up?

• Installation costs
• Size of the unit
• Efficiency
• Local climate

For Carrier, the most affordable units are in the Comfort Series. These are less efficient, however, so if you live in an area with extreme weather, it might cost more money to run than you will save on installation. Keep this in mind when choosing a unit.

The next tier is the Performance Series, which offers middle-of-the-road efficiency and costs. There is little difference, aside from the price, between the Performance 16 and the more expensive Infinity 16, so it might not be worth going up a tier there. But the rest of the most costly units in the Infinity Series could be worth the added price by their energy savings.

For a more accurate cost of a new heat pump to heat and cool your home, don’t hesitate to contact your local HVAC professionals. They can offer the most accurate Carrier heat pump price, including installation costs.

Carrier heat pump warranties

It’s essential to take notes about the warranty for such a big purchase. All Carrier heat pumps come with the same 10-year limited warranty on parts after registration. You must register within 90 days of installation, or your warranty will drop to 5 years.

Carrier heat pump reviews

Carrier offers some of the most energy-efficient heat pumps on the market. You can learn more about Carrier heat pumps by reading reviews on HVAC.com.

Frequently asked questions