The thought of running both a furnace and heat pump may feel somewhat unusual at first. After all, why do you need two sources of heat? Even though furnaces and heat pumps both produce energy-efficient heat, the changes in their design genuinely make installing both of them a potential option. It’s not for all of us, but under the right conditions you could truly benefit from owning a furnace and a heat pump.

You’ll want to consider several factors in order to confirm if this type of setup suits you. Your local climate and the size of your home are both highly important, particularly for the heat pump. This is because some models of heat pumps begin to work less efficiently in cooler weather and large homes. That being said, you can still take advantage of heat pump installation in Booneville.

Heat Pumps Might Be Less Effective in Winter Weather

Heat pumps are commonly less efficient in colder weather as a result of how they provide climate control to start with. As opposed to furnaces, which ignite fuel to generate heat, a heat pump reverses its stream of refrigerant to pull heat from outdoor air. This heat is then drawn inside and circulated around your home. As long as there is still a little heat energy in the air, a heat pump can function. But the colder the temperature, the less effective this process is.

The less heat energy is accessible outside, the more time is needed for a heat pump to pull heat indoors to reach your ideal temperature. It may depend on the type of make and model, but heat pumps generally start to lose efficiency at temperatures of 40 degrees and below. They can still be an energy-efficient option until 20-25 degrees, at which point a gas furnace will be more effective.

What Temperatures Do Heat Pumps Run 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. As a matter of fact, that’s why having both a furnace and heat pump can be worth the cost. You can keep the heat pump for energy-efficient heat until the weather is cold enough to call for swapping to something like a gas furnace.

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

So Should I Put in a Heat Pump if I Own 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 is worth the investment. Not only is a dual-heating system flexible, but it offers other benefits including:

  • A source of backup heating – A redundant heating system means even if one fails, you still have the capability to heat your home. It won’t always be the most energy efficient, but it’s better than having an unheated home while you wait for repairs.
  • Lower energy costs – The ability to select which heating system you use depending on the highest energy efficiency lowers your total costs. Smaller heating bills over the lifetime of these heating systems can really add up to a lot of savings.
  • Less strain on both systems – Instead of running one system all winter long, heating responsibilities are separated between the furnace and heat pump. Key components will sometimes last longer given that they’re not under nonstop use.

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