Are you considering replacing your heating system? Most of us here in Whittier, CA rely on our heaters consistently through the cold months, despite what others may think about the “always sunny” California weather. With increased use comes increased wear and tear, however, so it’s not uncommon for us to see a stronger demand for heaters than air conditioners.
So, if it’s time to replace your heater and you still don’t have an air conditioner (but you have been thinking about how nice it would be), a dual fuel system installation might just be your chance to have both. Keep reading and we’ll explain.
What is A Duel Fuel System?
A dual fuel system lets you enjoy the best of both worlds. It’s an air conditioner, it’s an electric heater, it’s a gas heater. Of course, it doesn’t use all of these features at the same time. So, here’s how it works:
First, keep in mind that the system primarily operates as a heat pump. That means instead of generating hot air through combustion—such as in the case of a natural gas furnace—it uses electricity to move warm air from one place to another. Even when it’s cold outside, there is still plenty of warm energy in the air that can be used by the heat pump. Heat pumps will remain quite efficient from 40 to 50 degrees. But what happens when the temperature falls below that?
At that point, the system switches to natural gas and becomes a furnace. Furnaces are actually a bit too powerful in the 40 to 50-degree range, but they’re highly efficient below those temperatures. The furnace will continue to run until temperatures rise back up to a level that’s more efficient for the heat pump. This switching back and forth between fuel sources is completely automatic; the system will only use the fuel source that’s more efficient for that moment.
Arguably the Most Efficient Heaters on the Market
The balance created by dual fuel systems make them perhaps the most efficient heaters on the market. The heat pump and furnace both complement each other so that you don’t have to suffer for their shortcomings. Yet, you still get to reap the maximum comfort of a fully-functioning heater while paying the least amount for it in monthly operational costs.
If it’s time to upgrade your heater and you’ve been using a furnace up to this point, you’ll immediately start seeing a reduction in operational costs with a dual fuel system in Whittier, CA.
Bonus as an Air Conditioner
Of course, you also get to enjoy the other benefit of enjoying a heat pump: it makes for a fine air conditioner in the spring and summer. The heat pump truly excels in higher temperatures, where it has plenty of warm air to move (in this case, moving it out of your house and to the outdoors). Of course, you would be adding on the new monthly energy costs in the summer to use it, but heat pumps are still more efficient than their central AC counterparts.