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Revised:
May 23rd, 2022
You want your heat pump to be trouble-free, to provide heating and cooling when you most need it.
There’s a fine line you walk when you’re estimating the number of repairs you’ll have to make on an old system versus buying new. A constant parade of HVAC contractors performing emergency fixes to keep it running is not ideal. A better investment might be a replacement, especially one with high efficiency.
Other signs that it might be the right time to buy a new heat pump include:
- Your heat pump is more than 10 years old.
- Your energy bills are going up
- Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold
- Your home has humidity problems
- Your heating or cooling system is becoming noisier
At Fire & Ice, we’ve helped thousands of Columbus homeowners find the HVAC system that best meets their individual needs. When considering heat pumps, we’re often asked if there’s a model that will lower your energy bills and help make you more comfortable. Carrier Infinity 18VS (also known by its model number 25VNA8) might be perfect for you.
Select models have earned the Energy Star label, which means that when installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.
But perhaps the biggest plus is what it can do for your home comfort.
In this article, we’ll go over its features, examine the cost, and see who will get the most benefit from this system.
In this article we’ll cover:
Efficiency of the Carrier Infinity 18VS
Benefits of the Carrier 18VS
Features of the Carrier 18VS
What Equipment Can I Pair with the Carrier 18VS?
Who’s the Right Fit for This Carrier Heat Pump?
What Is the Cost of a Carrier 18VS?
And finally, what are the next steps?
After reading this article you will have a better understanding of whether this model is right for you.
How Efficient Is the Infinity 18VS?
The Infinity 18VS (25VN8A) heat pump offers high-efficiency, variable-speed performance in a remarkably small cabinet and provides up to 11 HSPF heating efficiency, up to 19 SEER cooling efficiency, and an EER rating of up to 12.5.
Diving deeper into these numbers requires some explanation. HSPF stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, a heating efficiency rating for heat pumps. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. An HSPF of eight or above is considered high efficiency.
On the cooling side, SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating of a unit is the cooling output during a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input during the same period. The higher the unit’s SEER rating the more energy efficient it is.
New cooling units must have a rating of at least 13 and most have a rating between 13 and 21.
The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of an HVAC cooling device is the ratio of output cooling energy to input electrical energy, and is normally calculated with a 95 °F outside temperature and an inside temperature of 80 °F.
A 12 EER rating is an excellent energy-efficiency rating for an air conditioner.
What Are the Benefits of a High-Efficiency Heat Pump?
As you saw, the Infinity 18VS meets or exceeds the thresholds of what’s considered efficient. This means that this piece of equipment runs smoother without using excessive electricity. If you’re replacing a unit with a higher efficiency one, and you use the new heat pump as you did the old one, you’ll notice a drop in your energy bills.
Higher efficiency also means it distributes conditioned air better. This solves common household problems. It can help eliminate hot and cold spots because it runs longer. The longer the run time, the more opportunity the hot and cold air can mix in the house.
A longer runtime also dehumidifies better in the summer. Air conditioners remove damp air from the home; the more AC you get, the more it dries the air. Especially on an 80% relative humidity day, your heat pump can get the humidity inside down to a reasonable level. (The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is somewhere between 30-50% humidity, according to the Mayo Clinic.)
As a bonus, the lower the humidity, the cooler your skin will feel. That means you don’t have to turn down the thermometer as much, which saves you even more money.
Read more: Indoor Air Quality: HVAC Humidity Problems & Solutions
What Are the Features of the Infinity 18VS?
The variable-speed inverter capacity control delivers up to five stages of operation, which range from 25%-100%.
The benefit of having five stages is that you won’t need full heat or cool during spring or fall. It can deliver at 25% of its capacity because that’s all you need to keep your home comfortable. And because it can run at a slower speed than 100%, this saves energy and money. The unit will operate at low stages the majority of the time and will increase to maximum speed only at very cold or hot outdoor temperatures.
When it’s in its low-speed operation, the sound level is as low as 55 dBA. (A normal conversation is about 60 dBA.) It also has a soft start and ramps up smoothly and slowly to its optimal operating speed. This also gives you a break from the sound. If your current system has only one stage, you know how noisy it gets when it starts from 0 and jumps up to 100%.
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It’s significantly better than a 2-stage or single-stage unit at keeping temperatures even. If the thermostat is set at 72 F, a typical heat pump will cool until it hits about 69 F, then it won’t kick back on until the temperature climbs to 74 For so. The multiple stages can keep that temperature almost exactly at 72 F. That’s the ultimate in comfort throughout the entire home.
Plus, those lower speeds are the sweet spot for the unit’s best efficiency levels. You also get the most benefit out of other indoor air quality systems you might have, such as an air purifier, because of more constant airflow through the system.
This heat pump is dual-fuel capable. Dual fuel means that you use an electric heat pump with a gas (or propane or oil) furnace. You are using two heating sources that alternate between two different types of fuel. The right thermostat will make the switch for you, saving you the decision-making process.
What Equipment Can I Pair with the Carrier Infinity 18VS?
You may have heard of the term “equipment matching” or “rate.” It means is that the different pieces of equipment in your HVAC system need to be compatible with one another. This usually pertains to your furnace, air conditioner, and thermostat.
The blower motor in your furnace regulates airflow in the entire system, including the air that’s conditioned by the AC. So to run a variable-speed air conditioner, for example, you need to have a compatible blower motor that’s capable of handling the varying stages of the cycle.
The 18VS is capable of operating with a standard 2-stage thermostat and noncommunicating two-stage indoor equipment. In this case, the outdoor unit will be set up and operate as a two-stage system.
The 18VS will work with a one-stage thermostat as a one-stage system with a suitable indoor coil and fan until the indoor components can be upgraded to provide full variable speed functionality.
To enjoy the full capability of the five stages, you might need to invest in another Carrier product. For instance, the Infinity series heat pump will work smoothly with Carrier Infinity series furnaces such as the Infinity 96 or either model of the Infinity 80.
Carrier also offers various fan coils (a.k.a. air handlers), including the Infinity Fan Coil (FE4A), which offers a variable-speed blower. And all of these units will work best with the Infinity Touch Control thermostat.
Who’s the Right Fit for This Carrier Heat Pump?
The Carrier Infinity 18VS is a great fit for a homeowner who has a heat pump that’s 10-15 years old and is looking for an upgrade.
If your home has uncomfortable cold spots in the winter and hot spots in the summer, the five stages of the variable-speed inverter will help to ensure comfort throughout your home in any season.
If you have a large temperature discrepancy between upstairs and down, or may have a room at the end of the duct run that doesn’t get its fair share of heat, this heat pump can help. Because it can run longer at a slow speed, it helps the conditioned air mix longer. It can smooth out indoor temperature discrepancies.
If your home tends to be humid in the summer, the 18VS can help with that as well. The more it runs, the more humidity it will pull out of the house.
What Is the Cost of a Carrier 18VS?
The Carrier Infinity 18VS (25VNA8) heat pump costs between $7,900 and $9,900. The cost will depend on the complexity of installation, if modifications need to be made to your duct system, and a variety of other factors. The size of your home will also be a major variable in terms of how much this furnace will run. The larger the home, the larger the furnace will need to be, the higher the price.
Buying a Heat Pump in Columbus, Ohio
By now, you should know a few things: what makes the Carrier Infinity 98 different, whether or not it might be the right furnace for you, and what the next steps are to finding your perfect system.
The last step is to contact us to schedule your free, no-pressure estimate. You’ll get the exact pricing and a variety of recommendations to match your budget and comfort needs.
Meanwhile, here are some articles we hope you will find informative:
How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost to Replace in 2022?
