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Heat pump & 95% high efficiency hybrid
system
working together for the ultimate efficiency
SCHUEBEL'S
Heating & Air Conditioning
651-731-8071
Question:
Does an air source heat pump make sense in our Minnesota climate?
Answer:
To obtain the lowest possible operating costs a combination 95% high efficiency furnace and a heat pump can be used together. This combination "hybrid" system automatically switches to operate either the furnace or the heat pump depending on the weather conditions.
By combining the 95% high efficiency furnace with a heat pump you reduce
your energy bills which helps pay for the higher up front cost of a hybrid
system. The heat pump looks just like an air conditioner and also
cools your home in the summer.
A heat pump is really just an air conditioner that has a reversing valve
that lets it switch between heating and cooling. For cooling your home the
valve allows the refrigerant to take heat from inside your home and move it
outside. To heat your home the valve reverses and the heat pump then
moves heat into your home at up to three times more efficiently than
electric resistance heat
The graphs show how the hybrid system saves you money.
The first graph shows the cost per million BTUs of heat for a 95% high
efficiency furnace to operate.
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit which is measurement of heat.
As you can see the cost per BTU of heat is the same no matter what the
weather outside is.
(.962176 cents per therm - 100000
BTUs per therm)
The next graph shows the operating cost per million BTUs of heat for a
heat pump to operate.
The cost to operate a heat pump goes up as the outside temperature gets
colder.
(7.9 cents per KWH)
Now we put these two graphs together and we can see which is the lowest cost to operate.
The heat pump costs less to operate when
the outdoor temperature is 35 degrees or higher and the
95% efficiency gas furnace costs less to operate when the outside
temperature is below 35 degrees.
The hybrid system will automatically use the most efficient means of heating your home by switching between the heat pump and 95% high efficiency furnace depending on the outside temperature.
Call us for a free quote on a energy saving hybrid system. 651-731-8071
