A dual source heat pump is a system that combines an electric heat pump with a secondary traditional heating source, usually an oil or gas furnace. It provides efficient heating across all conditions, with the furnace kicking in on the coldest days and nights of the year.

If you find yourself in the middle of summer needing a new air conditioner, you could consider replacing your AC with a heat pump. It can work alongside your furnace as a year-round heating and cooling solution.

Dual source systems are often called dual fuel heat pumps, and you will see the terms used interchangeably in the HVAC market.

The Benefits of a Dual Source Heat Pump

The advantages of a dual source heat pump in Suffolk County range from increased efficiency to maximizing the use of your existing equipment.

• Best Efficiency Across All Seasons: With expert calibration of the thermostat and control board, you will enjoy the best thermal and cost-efficiency in any season. The heat pump will always run in ideal conditions, like during the summer and on moderate winter days and nights. The only time the furnace turns on is when outdoor temperatures drop low enough to significantly reduce the efficiency of an air-source heat pump. You get the best advantages of electric and fuel-based HVAC technologies.
• Lower Operating Costs: Because the system is designed for efficiency, it is significantly cheaper to run in winter than using combustion alone.
• No Compromise on Cold Weather Performance: Unlike a standalone heat pump, a dual source system will never struggle in extreme cold snaps, because the furnace is always available as a backup.
• Uses Your Existing Equipment: You can replace an air conditioner with a heat pump without wasting the investment you’ve made in a furnace. It keeps the equipment you already have in service for its maintenance lifetime.

What Happens When My Furnace is Due for Replacement?

The beauty of a dual source heat pump installation in Suffolk County is that it naturally looks to the future. Your furnace still has life in it today, but it will eventually need to be replaced. When that happens, you don’t need to buy another furnace.

When your furnace reaches its end of life, an HVAC contractor can safely remove the furnace from a dual source system and switch you entirely to electric heating and cooling from the heat pump.

A technician will:

• Swap or reconfigure the thermostat to remove the dual fuel logic.
• Add an electric auxiliary heat strip (if needed) to the air handler if the heat pump needs backup for the coldest days.
• Remove the furnace and decommission the fuel source.

Modern heat pumps are incredibly efficient, so you might not even need the heat strip. High-quality air-source heat pumps from manufacturers like Lennox® are efficient down to temperatures as low as -20°F.

Talk to Your Suffolk County HVAC Contractor About Dual Source Heat Pump Installation

Soundview HVAC installs electric and fuel-based heating and cooling systems in Suffolk County. We have served the community for over 25 years. Talk to an expert home comfort team and learn if a dual fuel heat pump system is right for your needs. We’re available at 631-209-1744 today.