Hybrid Heat

[maxxfusion]

What do you think about going with a heat pump and a gas furnance?

[BaldLoonie]

Do a search on hybrid heat or dual fuel, you'll get all the answers you need!

[heatpumpguru]

We do aton and they give BIG breaks on cost of KW in winter time 6 cents vs 15 cents above 600 kw

[motoguy128]

Do some searching on this site. Lots of threads on this topic.

If it's economical will depend on your electric rates and gas rates. These determine how much money each BTU costs you. The thing to remember is that a heat pumps efficiency and output changes with outdoor air temperature.

Advantages:
1) You're hedged against changes in fuel costs in the future.
2) You get the efficiency of a heat pump in warmer temps and comfort of a furnace when it's colder.
3) You have 2 heating units, so if either one has problem, you will still have some heat.
4) There's no additional equipment over a split A/C system.
5) You gain 1 additional stage of heat. It's normally a little less heat than the 1st stage of your furnace.

Disadvantages:
1) Heat pumps generally don't last as long as A/C units since they run in winter and summer.
2) More complexity you have 2 systems that could fail and you need a more advanced thermostat to take advantage of the system.
3) Increased equipment cost.
4) Dual fuel is a newer concept so in some areas they may not be very common or as well understood by all HVAC techs.
5) Depending on gas and electric rates, there may be no payback in these systems compared to using a higher effeciency furnace by itself or an all electric system.

Keep in mind, if you have a smaller home or in a more mild climate, dual fuel may be most economical with a 80% furnace, rather than a more expensive condensing furnace. if you only use $300 of gas with a dual fuel system a 90% furnace only saves $30 over a 80% furnace. So it could take over 20 years to recover the increased cost.

As some may have discovered with hybrid electric cars, more effecient is not always more economical... espcially with $2 gas because it costs money to save money.

[heatpumpguru]

We used to back them up with 80% AFUE but with the $1500 it is now 95's AFUE in PA and $300 from PECO for 90% heaters it does not make much sense to go with the 80%er's

[summit]

Keep in mind it's impossible to figure out your payback on your different options. Nobody knows what energy prices will be 5, 10, 15 years from now. You don't know how much you're actually going to save over the lifetime going with a Prius vs. a Malibu. One option is simply better, however, to hedge against fluctuating energy prices.

With a dual fuel system you have the option to disable the heat pump, if for some reason natural gas prices become dirt cheap compared to electricity. It's nice having the option to chose your fuel source.

[beenthere]

Do some searching on this site. Lots of threads on this topic.



Advantages:

3) You have 2 heating units, so if either one has problem, you will still have some heat.

Unless its the indoor blower, or control board that goes out.

Disadvantages:

4) Dual fuel is a newer concept so in some areas they may not be very common or as well understood by all HVAC techs.

If you call 20 plus years a newer concept.

Keep in mind, if you have a smaller home or in a more mild climate, dual fuel may be most economical with a 80% furnace, rather than a more expensive condensing furnace. if you only use $300 of gas with a dual fuel system a 90% furnace only saves $30 over a 80% furnace. So it could take over 20 years to recover the increased cost.

As some may have discovered with hybrid electric cars, more efficient is not always more economical... especially with $2 gas because it costs money to save money.

Dual fuel can and does save money on your heating bill.
Select a contractor that suggest it to you.
If you have to ask them about it, they probably don't install or service many of them. And may not have the experience with them, to set it up correctly.

[maxxfusion]

Thanks for all the help. I am going with the hybrid heat system from Carrier. The contractor i selected was the only one you did the calculation to detirmine the size of unit i need. Here is what I am getting:

25HNA648 Infinity Heat Pump w/ Evaporator Coil
58MVC100-1-20 Infinity ICS 95% w variable speed blower and multi stage heating
FILCAB Mechanical Air Cleaner
TP-PRH Edge Thermostat