If you want to keep your energy bills down, reducing energy consumption is one of the best ways to do that. Having the right heating system installed in your home can make a big difference. Space heating accounts for around 40 percent of the total energy consumption in the average American home. A dual fuel heating system offers both electricity and gas heating to maximize energy efficiency at all times. Is dual fuel heat pump worth it to install in your Indianapolis home? Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help you weigh your options.
What Is a Dual Fuel Heat Pump?
A dual fuel system is a type of hybrid heating system that utilizes both an electric heat pump and natural gas heating. A heat pump works alongside a gas furnace to keep your home consistently warm. Heat pumps are energy efficient heating and cooling systems, but when the outdoor temperature gets too cold, they aren’t as energy efficient as they are the rest of the year.
A dual fuel heating system helps combat this loss in energy efficiency to keep your indoor temperature comfortable even on the coldest days. In mild spring and fall weather, the heat pump provides efficient and cost-effective heat. When the temperature drops in the winter, the heat pump shuts off and your furnace takes over.
Why Indianapolis Homeowners Like Dual Fuel Heat Pumps
Many Hoosier homeowners want to know if a dual fuel heat pump is worth it. Installing a dual fuel heat pump system gives homeowners options and flexibility in their heating choices. With two heating options, you have the opportunity to use the one that operates with greater energy efficiency under the current conditions.
Since the dual fuel heat pump uses electric heating approximately 85% of the time, there is no need for continuous gas consumption to power the furnace. Generally, a traditional heat pump can heat Indianapolis homes efficiently, but when temperatures get too low in the winter, gas heating is the more efficient option. These systems switch between the heat pump and furnace to maximize energy efficiency, which saves homeowners money and provides reliable heat throughout the winter.
Dual Fuel Systems vs. Cold Climate Heat Pumps
The Indianapolis area can see some extremely cold weather over the winter season. Our climate impacts how efficiently certain heat pump equipment works, as not all function well at low outdoor temperatures. A standard heat pump performs efficiently throughout most of the year but struggles once temperatures dip to 40 degrees and below. Homeowners may question whether a dual fuel heat pump with a gas furnace will burn natural gas to create heat.
If you want to use a heat pump in your Indianapolis home, dual fuel heat pump systems and cold climate heat pumps are options that offer better heating energy efficiency than standard equipment. Cold climate heat pumps are a type of heat pump equipment designed to work more efficiently in areas prone to cold temperatures.
Homeowners have different preferences and heating needs, so the right system for your home may not be the same for your neighbor. Both systems are good options, but many people go with a dual system because they enjoy the energy savings, as well as the strong heat gas furnaces, provide.
Cold climate heat pumps work more efficiently at lower temperatures than standard equipment, but their efficiency is still affected by extremely cold conditions. Some models perform optimally down to around 5 degrees, and it is not out of the ordinary for Indianapolis to see days below degrees during some winters, but they are usually rare.
With dual fuel heat pumps, you don’t have to worry about the temperature because your system will automatically switch to the most efficient option for the conditions. Gas heat is optimal at extremely low temperatures and the quick warmth it generates is one of the best reasons why people choose dual fuel heating systems.
Dual Fuel Heating in Indianapolis
Need more answers before you decide if a dual fuel heat pump is worth it? Call Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about these systems and other options so you can find the best choice for efficient heating at home all winter long.