The thought of using both a furnace and heat pump might sound a bit unusual at first. After all, why would you need two heating systems? Although furnaces and heat pumps both offer energy-efficient heat, the changes in their design genuinely make installing both of them a potential option. It’s not for all of us, but under the right conditions you could absolutely benefit from having a furnace and a heat pump.

You’ll want to think about several factors in order to determine if this type of setup helps you. Your local climate and the square footage of your home are both very important, namely for the heat pump. This is because multiple models of heat pumps begin to work less efficiently in colder weather and bigger homes. That being said, you can still benefit from heat pump installation in Crown Point.

Heat Pumps May Be Less Reliable in Colder Weather

Heat pumps are commonly less efficient in cooler weather as a result of how they create climate control in the first place. As opposed to furnaces, which ignite fuel to create heat, a heat pump reverses its stream of refrigerant to draw heat from outdoor air. This heat is then brought inside and dispersed around your home. As long as there is still some heat energy in the air, a heat pump can function. But the colder the temperature, the less reliable this process is.

The less heat energy is accessible outside, the more time is needed for a heat pump to bring heat indoors to generate your ideal temperature. It might depend on the specific make and model, but heat pumps generally start to lose efficiency at temperatures of 40 degrees and colder. They still remain an energy-efficient option until 20-25 degrees, at which point a gas furnace is more effective.

What Temperatures Do Heat Pumps Work Best In?

Heat pumps work best in milder climates 40 degrees and up. That said, you don’t have to lose out on the benefits of a heat pump just because your local climate is cold. In fact, that’s why having both a furnace and heat pump may be worth the expense. You can keep the heat pump for energy-efficient heat until the weather is cool enough to warrant swapping to something like a gas furnace.

Certain makes and models claim greater performance in cooler weather. For example, the Lennox MLA heat pump is capable of running at 100% capacity at 0°F. It can even continue running in temperatures as low as -22°F. For maximum energy efficiency, you’ll likely still want to switch to the furnace in severely cold weather.

So Should I Install a Heat Pump if I Use a Gas Furnace?

If you’re interested in maintaining the most energy-efficient HVAC system available, owning a heat pump and gas furnace at the same time deserves the investment. Not only is a dual-heating system versatile, but it features other benefits like:

  • A source of backup heating – A redundant heating system means even if one fails, you still have the ability to heat your home. It might not be the most energy efficient, but it’s better than shivering in an unheated home while you sit around for repairs.
  • Fewer energy costs – The ability to select which heating system you use according to the highest energy efficiency reduces your total costs. Smaller heating bills over the life span of these heating systems can really add up to plenty of savings.
  • Less strain on both systems – Rather than running one system all winter long, heating resources are separated between the furnace and heat pump. Crucial hardware will sometimes live longer since they’re not under nonstop use.

If you’re still unsure about heat pump installation in Crown Point, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local professional technicians. They can evaluate your home’s comfort needs and help you figure out if a dual-heating HVAC system is the better option.