Hybrid Home Heating with Cooling Systems

Upgrade Your Home Energy Use With a Hybrid System.

What Are Hybrid Home Heating and Cooling Systems?

Hybrid home heating and cooling systems balance electricity and natural gas to deliver home temperature control that is efficient, affordable and reliable all year round. During cooler temperatures, hybrid systems use an electric heat pump to warm your home until the outside temperature drops below your pre-determined changeover set-point (typically 30°F-40°F, but ask your licensed heating contractor for guidance on customizing your thermostat setting). At that time, the system switches to a natural gas furnace for heating. In the warmer months, hybrid systems provide air conditioning to keep your home cool. Together, the heating and cooling capabilities of hybrid systems help you to stay comfortable through every season while cutting costs and reducing emissions.

Why Hybrid Heating and Cooling?

Reliable

By drawing from two separate energy sources, hybrid systems offer the stability to be depended on through every season.

Safe

In terms of performance, hybrid home heating and cooling systems are as safe as traditional heating and cooling systems. Hybrid systems use less electricity than all-electric systems, putting less strain on the electric grid.

Cost-effective

Unlike hybrid systems, fully electric heating and cooling solutions come with higher operating costs, especially during the coldest parts of Western New York winters.

Convenient

Once your hybrid system is installed and your temperature presets are entered into your thermostat, the system runs itself without inconveniences common to other fuel systems, such as propane deliveries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Searching for information that wasn’t covered above? Check out our FAQs to learn more.

How does a hybrid system work?
A hybrid home heating and cooling system, sometimes referred to as a “dual-fuel heating system,” heats the home with an electric heat pump during cooler weather, until the outdoor air temperature drops to a specified level, known as the changeover point, (typically between 30°F-40°F, but ask your licensed heating contractor for guidance on customizing your thermostat setting), below which the system will switch to a natural gas-powered furnace to heat the home in those colder temperatures.
Will a hybrid system provide greater comfort than a cold climate heat pump?
Yes. The hot air discharged into the home from a high-efficiency furnace is roughly 20°F warmer than that discharged from a cold climate heat pump, keeping you toasty warm during the coldest points of winter.
Can I adjust the temperature at which heating switches from electric to natural gas?
Yes. Hybrid systems allow the customer to customize the changeover point, which can be done right from your thermostat.
Will a hybrid system save me money?
Compared to all-electric cold climate heat pumps, hybrid systems are typically less expensive, both to install initially, as well as to operate in colder climates.
Will a hybrid system lower my emissions?
Hybrid systems provide a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional natural gas furnaces.
How else can I save money and reduce emissions?
Another great way to improve your efficiency is through weatherization. Weatherizing your home prevents energy waste and increases comfort by improving the lifespan of heating and cooling systems and eliminating hot and cold spots.
Is a hybrid system more reliable than a cold climate heat pump?
Yes. The hybrid system’s furnace backup provides an inherently more reliable solution: in a power outage, furnaces can be powered back up with small portable generators, while cold climate heat pumps require significantly greater electricity that could necessitate a larger generator.