At Reimer, our technicians can’t recommend hybrid systems enough. These advanced, energy-efficient cooling and heating systems have the potential to save homeowners money year-round and improve the comfort inside of their homes. In this article, we’ll review what hybrid systems are, how they work, and what makes them a good fit for homes here in Buffalo and Western New York.
Want to talk with one of our techs about your options? Call us here at Reimer for a free in-home estimate on a new cooling or heating system.
What are hybrid systems?
Also known as “dual-fuel systems,” a hybrid system is a special type of combined cooling and heating system that can switch between three modes of operation:
- Cooling generated by pulling heat energy out of your home and putting it outside, like an air conditioner.
- Heating generated by combustion of gas, like a traditional furnace.
- Heating generated by pulling heat energy from outdoor air into the home, like a heat pump.
These systems toggle between using electricity (for cooling and heat pump heating) and gas (for furnace heating) depending on which is the most efficient option at that time.
How are hybrid systems more efficient than a normal furnace?
In many cases, moving heat energy from one place to another requires less energy than the gas combustion process used by a furnace. Using the heat pump mode of operation during the fall, winter, and early spring lowers the cost of heating your home.
However, there’s a catch: heat pumps generally get less efficient as temperatures drop and it becomes more difficult to pull heat energy from outdoor air and bring it inside. Here in Buffalo and Western New York, we’re known for our below-freezing nights in the winter. The advantage of a hybrid system is that it knows that threshold and automatically switches to the more efficient furnace operation when it needs to.
When it comes to a hybrid system, think of the heat pump mode like a lower gear in a truck, with the furnace mode as a higher gear. Both have their uses depending on the context.
How much can this system save homeowners?
With this dual mode of operation, hybrid systems can reduce heating costs by up to 33% in the winter and cooling costs by up to 46% in the summer. If you think about the money you spend each and every year on cooling and heating, that could add up to thousands of dollars in savings over the lifetime of the system. But, you don’t have to wait to start saving. A new hybrid system professionally installed by the team at Reimer can help you start saving money right away this winter.
It should also be noted that this “two gears” approach can reduce the wear-and-tear the system would have otherwise experienced if it only had a single mode of operation. A gas furnace, for instance, can only run at one speed, whether it’s 50 out or -15.
Call Reimer for a free in-home estimate
Interested in learning more about our hybrid systems? Want to know if a dual-fuel system is right for your home? Call the experts here at Reimer for a free in-home estimate here in Buffalo and Western New York. We’ll send one of our friendly, experienced techs to meet with you and discuss your home’s heating needs, matching you to the system that’s right for your home and your budget.
Also, don’t forget that we offer financing!
