If a furnace is your main heat source, you probably want to lower your heating expenses without compromising comfort. When you install a heat pump, it can work with your furnace to provide full heating coverage, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining ideal home comfort. Here’s a guide to using a dual-fuel heating system, sometimes called hybrid heating.
Options For Pairing a Furnace with a Heat Pump
If you’re interested in a hybrid heating system, you can opt for a dual-fuel heating system that uses both natural gas and electricity or choose two separate heating appliances that are powered by different energy sources, like a heat pump and a gas furnace. A good heating professional can provide both heat pump and furnace installation services and determine the best configuration for your home.
How a Heat Pump Works with a Furnace
Pairing a traditional furnace with an air source heat pump is an effective way to achieve both consistent home comfort and optimal energy efficiency. A furnace working alone may result in erratic room temperatures, but a heat pump provides more stable warmth by avoiding intermittent bursts of heat. Furthermore, since heat pumps don’t require sudden energy surges like furnaces, they operate more efficiently.
Benefits of Combining a Furnace with a Heat Pump
Here are a few of the benefits of investing in a hybrid heating system:
- Lower heating costs. The heat pump’s energy-efficient technology moves existing heat to where it’s needed rather than creating heat from scratch.
- Longer lifespan. Both systems support each other, so less stress is placed on a single system leading to a longer lifespan for your furnace and heat pump.
- No getting caught in the cold. Since multiple heating solutions run on different energy sources, you don’t have to worry about a power outage or fuel shortage.
When to Use a Furnace vs a Heat Pump
Each heating system is better suited to certain external temperatures. Manitoba Hydro outlines three key temperatures to be aware of:
- The thermal balance point, the temperature at which the heat pump lacks the capacity to heat the home
- The economic balance point, the point at which your furnace is more cost-effective than your heat pump
- The low temperature cut-off, the minimum temperature at which your heat pump can safely operate
Your heating contractor can configure your system to run each heat source at its optimal temperatures, according to your preferences for comfort, costs and energy efficiency.
Your Full-Service Heating and Cooling Partner in Winnipeg
Whatever your heating service needs, Fair Service Heating and Air Conditioning Ltd. is the only call you need to make. We offer sales and installation of top brands, plus repair and maintenance of any make or model of heating or cooling appliance. We can even help you find financial incentives to make the switch to energy efficiency easier on the wallet. Contact us today to learn more or to request a quote.
