The indoor unit in a heat pump or all electric system is referred to as the air handler. The air handler consists of a blower motor, evaporator coil and auxiliary heat package. A common misconception is that this unit is the home's primary source of heat when - in reality - it is only a back-up.

Trane offers air handlers with a standard blower motor and a variable speed blower. Variable speed distributes the air the best through out your home, dehumidifies the home the best in the summer and not only is it your quietest option but it is easily your most efficient option.

The cooling efficiency of a heat pump, like an air conditioner, is measured by its SEER rating. The heating efficiency of a heat pump is measured by the unit's HSPF. SEER ratings range from 13 to 21; HSPF from 7 to 9.5. At Hetter Heating & Cooling, we recommend, when purchasing a heat pump, to look closely at the unit’s HSPF because we heat more than twice as many months out of the year than we cool. We recommend choosing a heat pump with an HSPF of 8.5 or higher.

Federal Tax Credits are still available. The parameters for a heat pump system to qualify for up to a $350 tax credit are as follows: 15 SEER, 8.5 HSPF, 12.5. Trane has plenty of heat pump system combinations (up to 4 ton) that qualify.

On January 23, 2006 the U.S. Department of Energy mandated that the minimum allowable cooling efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump is to be 13. The industry minimum had been 10 since 1992.

On January 1, 2010 the U.S. Department of Energy mandated that all manufacturers could no longer produce R-22 based heat pumps and air conditioners. All outdoor units now must be R-410A refrigerant.

Trane's product line is packed full of not only high efficient options to choose from but options that also offer superior reliability. Trane's patented Climatuff compressors are consistently rated some of the most durable on the market. Trane’s patented Spine-Fin Coils come with the least amount of brazed in joints on the market which means to you – the homeowner – the least likely chance of a refrigerant leak which is the beginning of the end of a heat pump. For more information, go to trane.com.