American Standard Heat Pumps

American Standard makes six types of heat pumps, which are classified into three groups of two. These groups are Silver, Gold, and Platinum, in ascending order by expense. This order also corresponds roughly to energy efficiency, which is evaluated according to a system called the Seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). A high SEER implies high energy efficiency.

Silver Series

The two Silver Series heat pumps have SEERs of 13 and 14. They use Spine Fin coils, which are large groups of aluminum fibers bundled together, so as to increase the available surface area while keeping the material within a small volume.

Silver Series heat pumps come with many features that protect them from the elements. These include steel panels for the sides, Durabase basepans, and SermaGuard rust resistant screws for the joints between these planes. These items are protected against rust and other sorts of damage.

Gold Series

The heat pumps of the Gold Series are somewhat more efficient than those the Silver Series. They have SEER numbers of 13 ("Contemporary") and 15 ("Premium"). They also have all the above-described outstanding features found among the Silver Series. The Gold Series is characterized by intermediate cost, comfort, and efficiency.

The Gold and Platinum Series of pumps have insulators for their compressors, a feature which makes them less noisy.

These heat pumps can also house an AccuClean system, which filters out small particles from air passing through the heat pump. The company suggests that air can become 99.98% clean as a result of this system. The filtration process separates organic allergens and inorganic pollutants alike.

Platinum Series

The Platinum Series models are both the most expensive and the most efficient. They have SEER ratings of 16 and 20. Both use two-stages, which allows them to run without using as much energy on days when not very much heat exchange is necessary.

These units also have Comfort-R humidity modulation, to further increase control over the quality of the house's air.

The top-of-the-line model, the "Heritage 20," or "Ultimate," contains an AccuLink control board, which provides a more sophisticated interface for its operator. The ChargeAssist charging port assists the process of charging, saving energy during input.

Care and Maintenance

American Standard recommends contacting a qualified technician to inspect a home's heat pump on an annual basis. Homeowners can do preventive maintenance by doing a little research or talking to a technician.

Warranty

Silver Series heat pumps have five year limited warranties for parts and outdoor coil, and ten-year warranties for their compressors. The Gold Series comes with ten-year warranties for all of the above. The Platinum Series is similar, but has a twelve-year warranty on its compressor.

Additional coverage for these items can be purchased in five- or ten-year intervals. This extra-warranty covers additional parts and is furthermore transferable to future homeowners.