Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during the long Wisconsin winter can be costly. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to improve a furnace’s efficiency. After evaluating the system, for example, your heating contractor might recommend installing a heat pump, which can reduce energy consumption by up to 60%. If you’re thinking about taking this route, here’s what you should know about the hybrid system.

How Furnaces Work

Furnaces, which can be powered by natural gas, fuel oil, or electricity, circulate heated air through a structure’s ductwork. These ducts deliver the warm air to each room through open vents. HVAC systems that rely on furnaces are often called forced air distribution systems. The primary components of such a system depend on its source of fuel.

How Heat Pumps Work

Heat pumps absorb heat from their surroundings and amplify it before transferring it to a structure. For example, an air-source heat pump absorbs heat from the air and converts it into fluid, which is passed through a compressor that increases its temperature further. A geothermal heat pump, on the other hand, draws its heat from deep below the ground. A water-source heat pump essentially harvests the heat that a nearby well, river, or stream absorbs from the sun each day.

How Furnaces & Heat Pumps Work Together

While furnaces must produce heat, pumps merely transfer it. As such, pumps are one of the most energy-efficient HVAC components you can install in your home. Because they rely on natural warmth, however, heat pumps lose their effectiveness once the temperature drops below about 30 degrees. Furnaces, on the other hand, can keep a home warm even when it’s freezing outside.

Using a hybrid system reduces your carbon footprint if the heating contractor sets up the pump to be the primary heat source. This lowers your home’s consumption of natural gas, fuel oil, or electricity considerably over the winter months. The furnace still serves as a backup source of heat, though, and kicks on when the temperature drops too low for the pump to operate.

To talk to a knowledgeable heating contractor about making your HVAC system more efficiently, turn to Pointon Heating & Air Conditioning in Baraboo and Portage, WI. They're backed by more than 200 years of team experience in the HVAC field. With a commitment to providing prompt and personalized service, their technicians are proud to serve both residential and commercial clients. To request a quote from this heating contractor, call (608) 356-4177 for Baraboo or (608) 745-4616 for Portage. Explore their services on their website.