During the winter months, you might notice your heating bill has gotten out of hand. By using a dual fuel heat pump, you can avoid purchasing a furnace replacement before you are ready and reduce your energy bills. Typical forced air systems utilize only one type of fuel to heat or cool a home, while a dual fuel system changes how you control the temperature in your home.
What Does Dual Fuel Mean?
Dual fuel refers to equipment which uses two different fuel sources to maximize efficiency. You can boost your furnace’s efficiency by using a hybrid solution during the spring and fall when the temperatures aren’t extremely low. A dual fuel heat pump works with your furnace and provides heat when the temperatures are average. It acts like a high-efficiency forced air conditioner during the summer months, keeping your cooling costs low.
Dual Fuel Heating
When the temperature outside is above 35°F, the dual fuel heat pump will extract heat from the outside air instead of firing up your furnace to heat your home. The heat pump is a furnace replacement for days when temperatures aren’t below freezing and easily managed. The furnace will kick on at the coldest times instead of running nonstop all winter long. Transferring heat uses less energy than creating it, which is why heating with a dual fuel heat pump is more energy efficient. To maintain comfort when temperatures fall below freezing, your gas furnace takes over and operates more efficiently in these extremes.
Dual Fuel Cooling
The dual fuel heat pump handles the heating duties during fall and spring, when temperatures start to fluctuate. It uses the furnace’s air distribution features without using any of the burners. Hot refrigerant is sent through the coils within the furnace and the fan draws the air through the cold air returns. The air blows over the warm coils and is circulated throughout your home to provide enough warmth to deal with low temperatures.
The heat pump reverses during the summer and sends cold refrigerant to the coils. The air brought in from the cold air returns moves over the coil and cools down, circulating back into your home and cooling it. It works like a conventional forced air cooling system.
Just because your energy bills are high doesn’t mean you need a furnace replacement just yet. Consider installing a dual fuel system to work with your heating system to boost its efficiency and save you money. Call Estes Services for your HVAC installation, maintenance and repair needs.
