Heat Pumps and Hybrid Systems

A Hybrid system runs on a combination of gas and electricity to minimize your heating costs. It combines a gas furnace, an electric heat pump and an air conditioner to give you maximum flexibility with the source of your energy usage. You benefit if gas prices are high and electric rates are low or visa versa.

On the outside, a heat pump looks exactly like a conventional air conditioner, but the difference is found on the inside with a reversing valve.

In summer, a heat pump operates just like a conventional air conditioner. A heat pump moves heat from the inside to the outside to create a cool environment.

In winter, a heat pump will reverse itself to heat the inside of your home when outside temperatures are as low as 35°. Your gas furnace will serve as a supplemental heat source when outside temperatures are lower than 35°-greatly reducing gas heating expenses. In Colorado, 55% of all heating fuel is used when temperatures are 42° or warmer. Running a heat pump instead of a furnace can result in typical savings of $200+ per year on overall heating costs. Generally, the increased costs of a heat pump over an air conditioner can be recovered in less than two years.

With a heat pump you get two appliances in one, an air conditioner for the summer and a heat source in the winter. Given our limited cooling season in Colorado, having this additional benefit is a bonus and improves the economics of air conditioning. Feel free to contact DALCO for a free estimate and more information on heat pumps.

Cooling

Each year, more and more homeowners are looking to central air conditioning as a means of providing comfort throughout the entire house, instead of just cooling one or two rooms with window units.

The reason is simple: a whole new generation of central air conditioning systems that feature higher efficiencies for lower utility bills, variable speed fans for quieter operation, and programmable thermostats for better temperature control.

Add to this the increased resale value of the house and you can see why the addition of central air conditioning is such a popular home improvement.

If you find yourself thinking about this type of project, a question you're probably asking is, "How easy is it to install central air conditioning in an older home?" The answer depends on your existing heating system. If it is a "forced air" type, which has a blower and ducts, then addition of central air conditioning could be fairly simple.

All that's required is the addition of an indoor cooling coil to your furnace, an outdoor condensing unit, and the proper thermostat. Modification or replacement of the furnace blower and existing ducts may be necessary if they're too small or inadequate. And, the electrical system must have the capacity to support the air conditioner.

If your existing heating system uses steam or hot water, there are no ducts or a central blower. In this case, ductwork will have to be installed in the attic, basement or ceiling.

Once you've decided you want central air conditioning, there are four important factors to consider.

Next is the capacity of the unit. Too large a unit will result in short operating cycles that will not adequately remove humidity. Too small a unit may not be able to maintain a comfortable temperature on the hottest days. Your air conditioning dealer can help you determine the correct capacity.

Choose a unit that's too large, and it will cost more to purchase and more to operate. Choose a unit that's too small, and it will lack the capacity to give you the comfort you want on the hottest days. The best choice is a system that's just the right capacity for your home.