When most people think about a heating system, they think of a singular unit. This could be a heat pump, furnace, boiler, or even radiant floor heating. However, you can also consider investing in a dual-fuel heating system using two units to maximize energy efficiency.
What Is a Dual-fuel Heating System?
A dual-fuel heating system uses two separate heating units that each use different types of fuel. The most common example is pairing an electronic heat pump with an additional furnace that burns natural gas, propane, or heating oil. A dual-fuel heating system gives homeowners more control over what type of heating system they utilize at what time.
Why Are Dual-fuel Heating Systems Beneficial?
When you first learn about dual-fuel heating systems, one of the questions you may have is why people would invest in them instead of purchasing one unit. The idea behind using a dual-fuel heating system is to optimize energy efficiency throughout winter. Some types of systems are more energy efficient when temperatures are milder but may struggle when temperatures plunge. Others excel when temperatures drop below zero.
Heat Pump Energy Efficiency
Heat pumps are the most energy-efficient heating system available on the market today. This type of system can operate at an efficiency level of 300% or even 400%. By comparison, an electric furnace operates at 100% efficiency, while a standard gas furnace will have an efficiency in the 80% range. There’s no doubt that having an energy-efficient heating system will help to reduce your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint.
The problem with air-source heat pumps, which are the most prominent on the market today, is their efficiency drops when temperatures get close to freezing. When the heat pump can no longer produce enough warmth, auxiliary methods kick in. In most cases, a heat strip in the indoor air handler unit warms the air as it passes through the indoor unit.
Unfortunately, the operating costs of using electricity to power a heating element inside a heat pump are quite steep. This is where having a second heating system comes into play. When you have a dual-fuel system, it will detect outside temperatures and automatically switch over to the fuel-burning furnace when it reaches a certain temperature.
Furnace Efficiency
Fuel-burning furnaces are specifically designed to work in all different types of climates, even those that experience temperatures regularly below zero. This makes them the ideal system to go alongside your heat pump to offer maximal operating efficiency. The efficiency of a furnace will depend highly on the type of furnace it is and the fuel it uses. Fuel-burning furnaces can be designed to run on natural gas, heating oil, or even propane.
Natural gas furnaces are going to be the most efficient, followed by propane and heating oil. All fuel-burning furnaces are available in both standard and high-efficiency models. Standard-efficiency models will be the most affordable for homeowners and offer efficiency in the 80% range. High-efficiency furnaces come at a higher upfront cost but can offer efficiencies in the 90% range.
Automatic Switching for Optimal Operating Efficiency
Dual-fuel heating systems are specifically designed to automatically switch between heating sources depending on the outdoor weather conditions. For example, if it’s 50 degrees Fahrenheit outside, your heating system will use heat from your heat pump because it’s going to be the most efficient source of heat. However, once outdoor temperatures are at 30 degrees, your heating system will automatically switch over to your furnace because it will be the most efficient option. A dual-fuel heating system can be set up to function automatically, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Choosing the Right Heating Units for Your Dual-fuel System
If you believe that a dual-fuel heating system is the ideal option for your home, then it’s important to start by choosing the specific heating units you want your home to have. First, the most obvious selection is to go with an air-source heat pump powered by electricity. The second option is to typically go with a furnace powered by a combustible fuel like natural gas or propane. Going with an electric furnace is not typically recommended when you have other combustible fuel options because electric furnaces tend to struggle in cold climates.
As mentioned above, natural gas is going to be the cheapest to purchase for most homeowners. However, if you live in a rural area, you may not have access to natural gas piping. In this case, you have the option of going with propane or heating oil. Both require you to have on-site storage tanks to hold the fuel. It’s typically best to check the fuel prices to determine which one will be the most cost-effective for your area. In most cases, propane will be cheaper than heating oil.
The Benefits of a Dual-fuel Heating System
Investing in a dual-fuel heating system for your home can come with many great benefits. The most obvious is increased energy efficiency. Without having to worry about it, a dual-fuel heating system will automatically switch between its two heating units, depending on which one’s more efficient for the weather in your area. The more efficient your heating system is, the less of your hard-earned money you’ll have to spend on your wintertime heating bills.
Another awesome benefit of a dual-fuel heating system is that you can significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint. A heat pump does not produce any toxic fumes. Only fuel-burning heating systems will produce these toxic fumes due to their combustion process from burning fuel. Every time you rely on your heat pump to heat your home over your traditional fuel-burning furnace, you’re essentially reducing the amount of toxic fumes your home is putting into the air.
One lesser-known benefit of dual-fuel heating systems is that they make you eligible for federal tax rebates. Most homeowners can claim up to a maximum of $3,200 when they purchase a dual-fuel heating system for their home. This can go a long way toward helping you recoup some of your initial investment cost for your new heating system setup. Additionally, many local utility companies, municipality governments, and even state governments will offer homeowners tax incentives to invest in these more energy-efficient systems. This is all in an attempt to sway homeowners to switch to using more energy-efficient appliances in their homes.
Expert Dual-fuel Heating Installation Service
Home Comfort Services offers expert dual-fuel heating installation for the Grand Junction, CO area. We are a family-owned and operated business that has been around since 2016. We have embraced the green movement and offer a wide range of energy-efficient appliances to help make your home more sustainable. We can help with all your indoor comfort needs, including air conditioning, traditional furnaces, and regular or geothermal heat pumps. We offer duct cleaning, maintenance, and indoor air quality services to keep your systems running well. We also offer a full range of plumbing services.
Call the friendly office staff at Home Comfort Services today for a heating service consultation. We’re available for emergency services.
