ENERGY STAR®-rated Units
ENERGY STAR®-rated Units | Dehumidifier Installation | Heating and Air Conditioning | Blaine
Severe East Tennessee humidity can leave your Blaine home feeling muggy in summer and clammy in winter, even when the thermostat says you should be comfortable. HEP’s ENERGY STAR®–rated heating and cooling units pair perfectly with a precision-matched whole-home dehumidifier to pull excess moisture from the air, lower the workload on your AC, and help you breathe easier. Our licensed technicians size every system to your square footage, seal all duct connections, and fine-tune airflow so you enjoy consistent temps, healthier indoor air, and utility bills that finally make sense.
When you schedule a dehumidifier installation with HEP, you get punctual service, transparent pricing, and the peace of mind that comes from a local team that’s protected Blaine homes for more than two decades. From the first humidity reading to the final walkthrough, we treat your house like our own—clean shoes, courteous answers, and a rock-solid satisfaction guarantee. Let’s reclaim your comfort and keep mold, allergens, and sticky air outside where they belong.
FAQs
What makes an ENERGY STAR®-rated heating or cooling unit different from a standard model?
ENERGY STAR equipment is independently certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet strict efficiency and performance standards. For air conditioners that means a minimum SEER2 rating of 15.2 (about 15 % more efficient than today’s federal minimum); for gas furnaces it means an AFUE of 95 % or higher; and for cold-climate heat pumps it means reliable operation and high Coefficient of Performance (COP) even at 5 °F. These units use advanced compressors, ECM blower motors, and smarter controls to cut energy use, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and usually run quieter than conventional systems. Because of the verified savings, they also qualify for many local rebates and federal tax credits.
Why is professional dehumidifier installation important for homes in Blaine?
Blaine’s warm, humid summers and tightly sealed winterized homes can trap moisture indoors, pushing relative humidity well above the recommended 30–50 % range. Excess moisture encourages mold growth, dust mites, and musty odors, and it can shorten the life of wood flooring and furniture. Professional installation ensures the dehumidifier is properly sized for your square footage, tied into the HVAC return and supply plenums where it can treat the whole house, set up with an automatic drain to a sump or condensate pump, and calibrated so it doesn’t fight the air conditioner. A correct installation keeps humidity under control while using the least possible energy.
Can an ENERGY STAR® cold-climate heat pump really provide both heating and cooling in Blaine’s winters?
Yes. Modern cold-climate, ENERGY STAR-certified heat pumps feature variable-speed, inverter-driven compressors and enhanced vapor-injection technology. They can maintain 100 % of their rated heating capacity down to 5 °F and continue operating efficiently at ‑15 °F. In moderate weather they deliver heat at 300 %+ efficiency (COP 3.0 or higher), far outperforming electric resistance heat. During summer the same system switches into high-efficiency air-conditioning mode, eliminating the need for a separate central AC. Many homeowners keep their existing gas furnace as an automatic backup for the absolute coldest snaps, but for much of the year the heat pump does all the work, saving significant energy.
How much can I expect to save by upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® furnace or air conditioner?
Savings depend on the age and efficiency of your current equipment, but typical Blaine homes replacing a 15-year-old 10 SEER air conditioner with an 18 SEER2 ENERGY STAR model see cooling-season electricity use drop by 35–45 %. Replacing an 80 % AFUE furnace with a 97 % AFUE ENERGY STAR unit cuts natural-gas consumption roughly 17–20 %. Over 10 years that can translate into $800–$1,500 in utility savings for cooling and $600–$1,200 for heating—more if energy prices rise. Lower humidity from a properly installed dehumidifier can also let you set the thermostat a couple degrees higher in summer without sacrificing comfort, adding another 3–5 % in savings.
Do I need a dedicated electrical circuit for a whole-home dehumidifier?
Most ducted, whole-house dehumidifiers draw 6–10 amps while running. Although they can sometimes share a circuit with the air handler, best practice (and many manufacturers’ warranties) call for a dedicated 120-volt, 15-amp circuit with a GFCI-protected outlet or hard-wired connection. This prevents nuisance breaker trips when the compressor and blower start simultaneously and meets National Electrical Code safety requirements. Our installers will verify panel capacity, pull the permit if needed, and include the electrical hookup as part of the job so you don’t have to hire a separate electrician.
What rebates or incentives are available in Blaine for ENERGY STAR® HVAC and dehumidifiers?
Utility providers serving Blaine—such as Xcel Energy, CenterPoint Energy, and Connexus Energy—offer rebates that usually range from $150 to $500 for qualifying ENERGY STAR heat pumps, furnaces, or central air conditioners. Whole-home dehumidifiers that exceed 1.8 L/kWh efficiency can earn an additional $50–$100. Minnesota also exempts ENERGY STAR-qualified equipment from state sales tax when part of an energy-saving upgrade. At the federal level, the 25C Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit reimburses 30 % of the installed cost up to $2,000 for heat pumps and $600 for furnaces or ACs, while the new HOMES rebate program (expected late 2024) could add $2,000–$4,000 more for deep retrofit projects. Our team will supply all documentation and help you file the paperwork so you capture every available dollar.