How Does a Heat Pump and Furnace Work Together?

Most homes in Moorpark have separate furnaces and air conditioning systems. When the weather turns chilly, homeowners flick on the furnace. When summer arrives, it’s the air conditioner’s turn to take over. This setup works fine, but what if there was a better, more efficient way to keep your house comfy? There is, and it’s called the dual-fuel system, which incorporates both the benefits of a furnace and a heat pump.

How does a heat pump and furnace work together? Learn about dual-fuel technology below, then call us for heating services in Moorpark, CA.

Furnaces vs. Heat Pumps: How They Compare

Before discussing dual-fuel systems, let’s talk about furnaces and how they compare to heat pumps. Furnaces only provide heating, so you’ll need a separate cooling system, especially in a warm place like Moorpark. You can purchase a furnace that runs on electricity or natural gas.

Unlike furnaces, heat pumps provide cooling as well as heating, so there’s no need to buy a separate air conditioner. On warm days, heat pumps extract hot air from your home. When the weather cools, the system warms your home with heat from the outside ground and air. Some heat pumps can extract warmth from water as well.

The main issue with heat pumps is that they don’t work very well in cold climates. Heat pump operation suffers, and efficiency begins to drop when temperatures dip lower than 40 degrees. They are, however, excellent for homeowners in mild climates who don’t need to run the furnace very often. 

Heat pumps use 50% less energy to heat your home compared to a furnace. And, because they don’t rely on electricity to cool your house, you’ll enjoy better energy efficiency and spend less on cooling bills in the summer, too.

Get the Best of Both Worlds with a Dual-Fuel System

What if you could get the best features of a furnace and heat pump in one convenient package? With a dual-fuel system, you can.

How does a heat pump and furnace work together? A dual-fuel unit is a hybrid system that includes a gas furnace and an electric heat pump. The heat pump, as mentioned above, handles cooling in the summer and heats your home in the winter.

If the temperature happens to drop suddenly and the heat pump can’t keep up, the system switches over to backup furnace heating, which gets your home warm quickly. Once the unit hits the temperature on your thermostat, the heat pump takes over again. This temperature regulation eliminates the efficiency problem heat pumps have in cold climates.

When Should You Consider a Dual-Fuel System?

You may be wondering whether you should invest in a dual-fuel system or stick with the usual furnace-air conditioner combo for your Moorpark home. Which suits our climate and your comfort preferences the best?

Moorpark features a mild yearlong climate, with temperatures that rarely dip below 50 degrees, even in the winter. However, it does get the occasional mid-40s day, and that’s much too chilly to go without a heating system. In the summer, temperatures hover in the 80s, making a cooling system a necessity.

How does a heat pump and furnace work together? Dual-fuel systems and their seasonal heating modes make perfect sense for a climate like ours. Thanks to mild temperatures, the heat pump will handle heating and cooling most of the time. On those rare frigid nights, the furnace will take over.

A dual-fuel system is a good choice if you suffer from dry skin in the winter. Furnaces can drastically dry out your home’s air and make you uncomfortable. Because your system will use the heat pump for warmth, you’ll be better able to maintain indoor humidity levels.

Lastly, the California government rewards homeowners who outfit their dwellings with energy-efficient HVAC systems. You could get a rebate of $4,000-$8,000 for installing a heat pump or dual-fuel system, so now is an excellent time for an upgrade.