Many homeowners who have relied on a central furnace or air conditioner for their home comfort needs are likely to feel hesitant about switching to a heat pump. Although heat pumps have many advantages, some people are concerned about their ability to keep up with the cold winter weather here in Pennsylvania.
For homeowners who want the best of both worlds, there is an amazing option: a dual fuel system. In a nutshell, a dual fuel system consists of a heat pump and a small furnace that is used when temperatures plummet. Let’s go over how you can achieve year-round energy savings with one of these hybrid HVAC systems.
What Is a Dual Fuel System?
A dual fuel system consists of a heat pump and a furnace. What’s great about this configuration is that you can choose efficiency ratings that’ll work best for your specific energy efficiency and home comfort goals. When considering dual fuel systems in Pittsburgh, you need to know about efficiency ratings.
For example, if you wanted to rely on a heat pump entirely, you would want to choose either a cold climate heat pump or one that is highly efficient. Heat pumps have ratings that represent their efficiency. For cooling, it’s SEER2 and for heating it’s HSPF2. However, the more efficient the heat pump, the more expensive it is.
With a dual fuel system, you could choose a standard heat pump and a standard gas or electric furnace that will cost less than highly efficient models. Then when temperatures plummet to below freezing, instead of having to rely on your heat pump which won’t work as efficiently in temperatures below 40 degrees, your furnace will take over heating your home.
Advantages of Dual Fuel Systems
- High Efficiency: Dual fuel systems give you the best in energy efficiency. Your heat pump will efficiently handle your air conditioning needs and your heating needs on days when it’s above freezing. Then, the furnace kicks in to make up the difference.
- Ultimate Home Comfort: Dual fuel systems give you the best in home comfort. You won’t have to worry about your heat pump struggling with efficiency when temperatures drop to the single-digits–or lower. Instead, the furnace will take over to quickly and efficiently heat your home during the coldest days of winter
- Low Energy Costs: Dual fuel systems provide the best combination in efficiency which spells lower energy bills throughout the winter. The system automatically figures out how to run in response to the outdoor temperatures so you can rest assured your system is operating as efficiently as it can.
If you’d like to learn more about how a dual fuel system can revolutionize your home comfort system, contact us today. Our Pittsburgh area heat pump technicians will help you learn more about how a heat pump works and whether this unique technology can be effective in your home.
Call the friendly staff at Boehmer Heating & Cooling for exceptional customer service! Schedule dual fuel system installation in Pittsburgh, PA with our team today.