Sooner or later, you'll have to replace your old or ailing furnace. HVAC equipment replacement can be a significant investment, so when considering options for a new heating system for your Mid-Ohio home, you'll want to carefully evaluate factors such as fuel efficiency, ongoing operating expenses and fuel costs, and initial investment. In cold-winter climates like ours, a dual-fuel system is a very good choice as a replacement for a traditional furnace.
Dual-fuel systems, also known as hybrid fuel systems, combine two effective and efficient methods of heating. They consist of an electric air-source heat pump and a furnace that burns standard fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane or oil. Using these two types of heating together provides a higher level of efficiency and economy than either could achieve by itself.
The shift between the two heating types is what makes dual-fuel systems efficient and economical. Heat pumps are extremely efficient sources of heating, and the heat pump side of the dual-fuel system works well during times of moderately cold temperatures. When outdoor temperatures fall much past freezing, however, heat pumps lose efficiency. The switch to the furnace component during colder days means that a dual-fuel system always uses the most efficient source of heating when it's needed. Dual-fuel heating can save homeowners as much as 30 percent over traditional furnaces.
Remember that a dual-fuel system will require the management of two sources of energy for running the system. A utility connection for gas or other fuel will be necessary if you don't already have one.
Joe Behr Plumbing and Heating, Inc. offers reliable professional plumbing and HVAC services to customers in the Mid-Ohio area, and has done so for more than 47 years. Contact us today for more information on dual-fuel heating, to get an estimate on a new system, or to schedule an installation.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Mid-Ohio area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duel fuel systems and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
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