The thought of installing both a furnace and heat pump might sound a bit unusual at first. After all, why would you need two heaters? Even though furnaces and heat pumps both provide energy-efficient heat, the changes in their design genuinely make using both of them a reasonable option. It’s not for everybody, but under the right conditions you could truly benefit from having a furnace and a heat pump.

You’ll want to consider several factors in order to determine if this type of setup suits you. Your local climate and the square footage of your home are both especially important, especially for the heat pump. This is because many models of heat pumps will run less effectively in cooler weather and bigger homes. That being said, you can still benefit from heat pump installation in Chadron.

Heat Pumps May Be Less Reliable in Cold Weather

Heat pumps are generally less reliable in cold weather due to how they create climate control to begin with. As opposed to furnaces, which burn fuel to create heat, a heat pump reverses its flow of refrigerant to extract heat from outdoor air. This heat is then brought inside and distributed around your home. Assuming there is still a bit of heat energy in the air, a heat pump will function. But the cooler 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 reach your ideal temperature. It can depend on the type of 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 a gas furnace is more effective.

What Temperatures Do Heat Pumps Run 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 the local climate is cold. In fact, that’s why installing both a furnace and heat pump can be worth the costs. You can use the heat pump for energy-efficient heat until the weather is chilly enough to justify switching to something like a gas furnace.

A few makes and models tout greater performance in cooler 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 cold as -22°F. For optimum energy efficiency, you’ll likely still want to use the furnace in especially cold weather.

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

If you’re thinking about 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 flexible, but it offers other perks 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 won’t always 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 pick which heating system you use based on the highest energy efficiency lowers your total costs. Smaller heating bills over the life of these heaters can really add up to plenty of savings.
  • Less strain on both systems – Instead of running one system all winter long, heating resources are split between the furnace and heat pump. Crucial hardware could live longer as they’re not under continuous use.

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