Heat pumps are a Trane specialty. On the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota lies La Crosse. This is where James Trane opened his first business. Trane heat pumps can be found on most continents. The Trane name has been around for 125 years.

Whether it’s hot or cold, a heat pump can deliver cool air or hot air through the ducts of your home. Its name suggests only one of these abilities – but both are equally well supplied. Many homes will come with a furnace. Later, the owner may add a window-unit air conditioner – or an outdoor central unit. These two – or more machines – are unnecessary when a heat pump is used. Trane has four efficiency types of pump. Ultra, super, high and standard.

XB13 and XB14 are the two standard units Trane offers. A tax credit from your government is available when purchasing the XB14. Trane constructs a durable machine that operates economically and efficiently. The name-brand “CleanEffects” is an option that can be added. “CleanEffects” filters-out all the nasty particles that cause allergies and illness.

Warranties and certain specifications are important when comparing anything. Heat pumps are no different. The two Trane standard efficiency models have a heat efficiency rating – HSPF – approaching 8.5. Running quite quietly they each have a measured sound specification of 78. The ten year warranty for the compressor and the coil and mechanical parts warranty for 5 years offers peace-of-mind.

When measuring efficiency, the national Energy Star regulation is used. The XB14 model – with a SEER up-to 15 – exceeds the minimum requirements to achieve this rating. SEER is an acronym referencing the efficiency of cooling for a heat pump. XB13 has a SEER over 13 – this is not quite a high enough number to qualify for the Energy Star label.

Extended warranties and ten-year limited – registered – warranties – are available for the compressors of the Trane high efficiency models. Mechanical parts and coils are also covered by the 10 year guarantee. XR15, XR14 and XR13 are the three units in this category.

A quiet level of sound – measuring only 75 – is found running the XR15. A hardly noticeable difference of one unit louder is the purring sound level for the XR13 and the XR14. A high SEER of 16.5 and a 9.0 HSPF give the XR15 the Energy Star rate. The XR14 has the same – 9.0 – rating as the XR15; but a 15.0 – or less – SEER. This unit and the XR13 are not rated as Energy Star devices. The HSPF and SEER for the XR13 are 8.5 or under and 14.00 or over – respectively

The next group of pumps offered by Trane are the super efficient models. There is only one difference – the cooling efficiency; or SEER – that can be found when comparing the XL14i model and the XL15i. Measuring 16.0, or less with the 15i and 15.25 or less for the XL14i, qualifies both for the Energy Star rating. Noise levels of 74 mean both run quietly. A measurement of 9.0 can be found in both units as their HSPF. A whopping 12 year warranty on parts, the coil and the compressor make it almost unnecessary to take advantage of the optional extended warranty.

Two ultra efficient models top the list of Trane’s heat pump varieties. “Energy Star” will be found attached to each of these two units. Looking at the SEER for the XL16i and the XL20i we find a level of up-to 17.0 for the 16 and 19.0 for the 20. Heating efficiency measurements approach 9.2 for the “ultra” XL16i machine and 9.0 for the XL20i.

A peaceful level of 74 is the reading when testing for the measured sound emitted while these units are running. There are two compressors operating inside the XL20i. This dual-staged operation is part of the technology that makes this heat pump an “ultra” model. The XL16i uses a staged – single compressor operation. All mechanical parts – the coils and the specialized compressors – come with extendable warranties. The limited warranty can be registered for 12 years for the compressors and ten for the parts and coils.

Quality that extends around the world. Reliability that is backed by great warranties. Several levels of efficiency. Trane heat pumps offer a lot to choose from while conserving energy and saving customers money. It also makes sense to have one unit – when possible – to do both jobs of heating and air conditioning a home.