The thought of installing both a furnace and heat pump can feel somewhat unusual at first. After all, why would you need two sources of heat? Even though furnaces and heat pumps both provide energy-efficient heat, the differences in their design actually make employing both of them a potential option. It’s not for all of us, but under the right conditions you could definitely benefit from owning a furnace and a heat pump.

You’ll need to weigh several factors in order to decide if this sort of setup works for you. Your local climate and the size of your home are both especially important, particularly for the heat pump. This is because numerous models of heat pumps start to work less effectively in cooler weather and bigger homes. At the same time, you can still take advantage of heat pump installation in Norton.

Heat Pumps Might Be Less Effective in Winter Weather

Heat pumps are typically less reliable in cold weather due to how they generate climate control to start with. As opposed to furnaces, which burn fuel to create heat, a heat pump reverses its flow of refrigerant to pull heat from outdoor air. This heat is then drawn inside and distributed all through 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 efficient this process is.

The less heat energy is accessible outside, the more effort is required for a heat pump to draw heat indoors to generate your ideal temperature. It can depend on the specific make and model, but heat pumps generally start to lose out on efficiency at temperatures of 40 degrees and below. They can still be an energy-efficient option until 20-25 degrees, after which a gas furnace should be more effective.

What Temperatures Do Heat Pumps Perform Best In?

Heat pumps manage best in milder climates 40 degrees and up. That said, you don’t have to give up on the benefits of a heat pump just because your local climate is cold. After all, that’s why using both a furnace and heat pump may be worth the costs. You can use the heat pump for energy-efficient heat until the weather is cold enough to justify shifting to something like a gas furnace.

Certain makes and models boast greater performance in winter weather. For example, the Lennox MLA heat pump is capable of working at 100% capacity at 0°F. It can even remain functional in temperatures as extreme as -22°F. For maximum energy efficiency, you’ll likely still want to swap to the furnace in especially cold weather.

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

If you’re serious about maintaining the most energy-efficient HVAC system possible, owning a heat pump and gas furnace at the same time warrants the investment. Not only is a dual-heating system adaptable, but it provides other advantages including:

• Dependable backup heating – A redundant heating system means even if one breaks down, you still have the means to heat your home. It may not be the most energy efficient, but it’s better than having an unheated home while you sit around for repairs.
• Reduced energy costs – The ability to choose which heating system you use according to the highest energy efficiency lowers your total costs. Smaller heating bills over the life span of these heating systems can really add up to a lot of savings.
• Less strain on both systems – Compared to running one system all winter long, heating responsibilities are divided between the furnace and heat pump. Key components may survive longer as they’re not under nonstop use.

If you’re still uncertain about heat pump installation in Norton, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local professional technicians. They can review your home’s comfort needs and help you determine if a dual-heating HVAC system is the ideal option.