Hybrid Heating: How Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Systems Save Energy & Money

There’s a delicate balance between keeping your family comfortable and controlling utility bills. 

With a dual-fuel heat pump system, you can stay warm — or cool — all year long without worrying about insane energy costs.

This post is sponsored by American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning.

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What is Hybrid Heating?

Essentially, hybrid heating gives you the best of both worlds, pairing an electric heat pump with a gas furnace to efficiently control your home’s climate during every season. 

During hot summer weather, the heat pump works like a central air conditioner, transferring hot air out of your home. 

In moderately cold temperatures during the spring and fall, a heat pump provides adequate and cost-effective heating. However, as outdoor temperatures dip further, the average heat pump decreases in heating capacity and efficiency.

When temperatures get below 40, the gas furnace takes over to quickly heat the house. 

The system is designed to automatically switch between the heat pump and furnace, depending on your home’s temperature conditions. Allowing your home to heat up or cool down without you having to do a thing. 

With a system that chooses the optimal heating type — electric or gas — you save energy and maintain home comfort. 

And because each component only works when conditions are ideal for it to operate, hybrid systems have a longer life expectancy — from 20 to 25 years. 

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Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Energy Savings 

A hybrid heating system saves you energy, time and money because it can switch between a furnace and heat pump to efficiently warm your home.

You don’t need a furnace, which produces heat, in hot temperatures, and a heat pump works overtime in extremely cold temperatures. 

Instead of letting a regular heat pump do extra work in the winter, a dual-fuel system lets the furnace do the heavy lifting. This means the heat pump isn’t using unnecessary energy. 

On the flip side, a heat pump can warm your home more efficiently than a furnace when it’s just cool — typically above 40 degrees — outside.

All this switching between functions doesn’t only save energy — it also saves time and money. By allowing the best device to heat or cool your home at the best time, a dual-fuel system gets your home to the desired temperature faster. 

A dual-fuel heat pump system coupled with a smart thermostat, like American Standard’s AccuLink Platinum 1050 Control, can save you even more on utility bills. Program it to optimize which fuel to use based on your electric utility rate. (They never run at the same time.) 

And, of course, a smart thermostat allows you to control your heating from anywhere as well as to set energy-saving heating schedules — ensuring cozy comfort no matter what the weather’s like outside.

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Is a Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Right for You?

If you live in an area that sees temperatures at both ends of the spectrum, a dual-fuel heat pump system may be for you. 

A furnace only heats, so if you live through changing climates, you’ll need to invest in another HVAC system to meet your needs. 

And while heat pumps both heat and cool your home, they have to work overtime at extremely low temperatures, which isn’t always the most cost or energy-effective solution. 

Dual fuel heat pumps take the best qualities of both systems to tackle whatever climate you may wake up to.

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Dual-Fuel Heat Pump System Installation

If you’re interested in dual heating, there are two basic options:

• Installing a split system with separate heat pump and furnace components. A heat pump and furnace can be paired to create a dual-fuel or hybrid system.
Not all HVAC systems are created equal. Some are louder than others, and some operate on full blast, reach the desired temperature and immediately cut off — meaning you can expect a lot of warm and cold cycles in your home.
American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning’s AccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump has variable speeds that provide even heating throughout the home. Coupled with a high-performing furnace like American Standard’s Platinum 95 Gas Furnace, this dual-fuel system will thoroughly and efficiently heat your home throughout winter.

• Installing a dual-fuel HVAC like American Standard’s Platinum 16 Gas/Electric System, which conveniently includes both functions in a single unit.

To find an American Standard Customer Care Dealer, visit americanstandardair.com.

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Further Reading