Your furnace and AC are both essential to your home comfort. Maintaining both can be a hassle, though. Is it possible to combine heating and cooling systems into a single unit? Will it make things easier for you or reduce your energy bills? There are a number of factors to consider.
The Case for Combining Units
It is possible to combine heating and cooling systems. One of the most common reasons for doing so is to save money. While a combined system is more expensive than either a furnace or an air conditioner, it’s still less than the cost of buying both units separately. You also only have to service the unit once a year, rather than getting tuneups in both the spring and fall.
Finally, a combined heating and cooling system can save you energy, especially in winter. It’s easy to let your heating bills get out of hand — especially in Indiana. A combined system can help diminish those costs.
Heat Pumps
The most common type of combination system is a heat pump. In summer, they function like a regular AC. In winter, they work by reversing the flow of heat, extracting it from the outdoor air and bringing it inside. Using heat in this way helps save energy over a regular gas furnace.
However, there is one drawback: Heat pumps work best in milder winter climates. When temperatures drop below freezing, they lose efficiency and need to be supplemented with another source of heat, which uses more energy. On the coldest days in Indianapolis, it might not be as effective an option as you’d like.
On the other hand, there are some heat pumps designed to continue working efficiently in extreme winter temperatures. They’re a bit more expensive than regular heat pumps, but they can save you more energy in the long run. Talk to your HVAC contractor to see what type of HVAC system works best for your home’s needs.
If you want to combine heating and cooling systems in your home, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. Indianapolis trusts us for quality home-comfort solutions.
