What Is HSPF in a Heat Pump?

HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) tells you how efficiently a heat pump heats over a whole season. Higher is better. Since 2023, ratings use a newer test called HSPF2, which gives lower numbers for the same equipment. Here is how to read them and how they compare with SEER, EER and COP.

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📏 What HSPF Measures

HSPF is the total heat a heat pump delivers over a heating season, in BTU, divided by the electricity it uses, in watt-hours. Dividing HSPF by 3.412 gives a rough seasonal average COP: an HSPF2 of 8.5 works out to about 2.5, so on average the heat pump delivers two and a half times more heat than the electricity it uses.

🆕 HSPF vs HSPF2

HSPF2 is tested with higher duct static pressure, closer to real homes, so the number comes out lower. As a rough guide, HSPF2 is about 15% lower than the old HSPF for the same unit. Compare HSPF2 to HSPF2, never to an old HSPF figure.

⚖️ HSPF, SEER, EER and COP

Rating Measures Season Higher is
HSPF / HSPF2 Heating efficiency over a season Heating Better
SEER / SEER2 Cooling efficiency over a season Cooling Better
EER / EER2 Cooling efficiency at one hot condition Cooling (peak) Better
COP Heating efficiency at one temperature Heating (any point) Better

More on each: SEER and SEER2 and COP.

❄️ Why HSPF Alone Is Not Enough in Ontario

HSPF is calculated for a moderate climate. A Toronto winter is colder, and what matters most on a -20°C night is how much heat the unit still delivers and how efficiently. That is why we also look at output and COP at -15°C and below, and recommend cold-climate heat pumps for most homes.

💡 Rebates are paid on heat pumps from Natural Resources Canada's qualified list, which already screens for efficiency. See heat pump rebates.

🏷️ Where to Find the Numbers

Every heat pump page in our store lists SEER2 and HSPF2 for each size. Browse single-zone ductless, multi-zone, hybrid and central heat pumps.

🔗 Related Guides & Services

🌡️ Get Help Comparing Heat Pumps

Send us a few photos and tell us about your home. We will recommend the right system and give you a clear written price.

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