Dual-fuel heating is a relatively new way to keep your home warm this winter. It allows your home to get its heat from either a heat pump or furnace depending on the situation, which can turn an air-source heat pump into a viable option.
Heat pumps aren’t as common in areas that frequently experience sub-freezing temperatures. Heat pumps don’t directly generate heat but rather extract it from the outside air and bring it inside. This makes them much more energy efficient than other heating systems, but also means they can’t provide enough heat when temperatures drop below freezing. The good news is that manufacturers are designing and producing state-of-the-art heat pumps that can provide comfortable heating down to near zero, though they’re still not that common.
To compensate for their limitations at colder temperatures, heat pumps typically included feature backup electric heating elements. This is fine for mild climates where they will rarely get used, but electric heating elements aren’t an economical way to heat a home for extended periods. Dual-fuel heating solves this problem because it forgoes the backup electric heating element and allows a gas furnace to provide the backup heating instead.
Heat pumps also provide cooling in the same manner as an air conditioner in the summer, so the best time to consider purchasing dual-fuel heating would actually be when it’s about time to replace your old air conditioner. Dual-fuel systems do cost a bit more than a regular air conditioners, but heat pumps can provide heat at up to three times the efficiency of even the most efficient furnace, so dual-fuel systems can provide significant savings on energy bills. Exactly how much you’ll save depends on a variety of factors, such as local electrical and gas rates, so you may want to consult an HVAC professional for an estimate. Additionally, they can check your furnace for compatibility since not all older furnaces work with dual-fuel heating systems.
If you want help determining how much savings a dual-fuel system could provide for your home, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. We’ve provided service to the Dayton and Springfield areas since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about dual fuel heating and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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