While HVAC contractors are often focused on installing electric-only heat pumps, propane continues to provide greater comfort for residential homeowners, in both new home construction and remodeling. Recent advances in home heating equipment present an opportunity to showcase the benefits of propane to homebuilders and homeowners alike, all while increasing the likelihood for HVAC companies to recommend propane and deliver comfort.
THE HYBRID HEAT PUMP SOLUTION
An air-handler-installed Heat Pump Helper™ moves hot water from the propane tankless water heater across newly installed hydronic coils to create hot air that is then blown through the existing ductwork to heat the home.
THE BENEFITS OF HYBRID HEATING SYSTEMS
Traditional electric heat pumps consistently struggle to deliver comfort and efficiency when temperatures drop. When the heat pump can’t deliver the desired temperature, the unit’s back-up system is engaged — a system that typically relies on resistance heating, increasing electric demand by three-to-four times, and still fails to provide consistent heat.
HYBRID COMPONENTS HELP TO CONTROL HEAT AND COSTS
Legacy hybrid heating solutions employed a propane furnace to operate when the electric heat pump needs help. Today, homeowners can leverage a tankless water heater in the home to help the heat pump, which also offers the ability to program usage based on outside temperatures or during peak electric rates, reducing both operating costs and emissions.
With a propane-powered backup generator added to the mix, the dual-fuel heat pump system also provides greater peace of mind, reliably producing enough electricity to power all of the necessary components for comfort. Plus, with propane reducing loads running at peak rates, the electric demands of the whole home are reduced, further cutting costs for homeowners.
AN APPEALING ALTERNATIVE FOR CONSTRUCTION CUSTOMERS
Construction professionals are increasingly recommending hybrid heating systems as a cost-effective way to improve home heating and customer satisfaction. They offer more:
PEACE OF MIND
Hybrid systems can provide year-round comfort in addition to emergency power and heat during times of electric grid failure.
EFFICIENCY
Upgrading to a hybrid heat pump system is a comparatively simple way to improve heating performance, providing increased comfort at any time of the year.
AFFORDABILITY
When compared to the installation and maintenance needed for other home heating applications designed for increased comfort and grid resilience, hybrid heat pump systems show, on average, about a 35% improvement in operating costs.
FLEXIBILITY
For homeowners considering future additions of PV solar or wind-generated power, a hybrid heat pump solution can make installation more cost-effective, due to the reduced electrical peak and running loads.
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