Information About Hybrid Furnaces

Hybrid furnaces, like normal furnaces, use natural gas or oil to provide heat, but they can also do it by using electricity. By programming its thermostat, a hybrid furnace can be set to switch its power source based on outside temperatures.

Function

• A hybrid furnace provides heat by using a traditional gas furnace and an electrical heat pump condensing unit. As outside temperatures dip, the hybrid furnace will provide heat using one or the other power source.

Settings

• User settings determine how hybrid furnaces produce heat, which translates into cost-efficiency. For example, if natural gas prices are lower than electricity prices, the hybrid furnace can be programmed to produce heat using natural gas for as long as possible before switching to electricity, and vice versa. In general, the power source transition occurs when the outside temperature drops to 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Costs and Benefits

• Installing a hybrid furnace costs about $2,000 more than a traditional furnace, but, according to WTAE TV in Pittsburgh, the unit will pay for itself through energy savings in three to five years. One of the biggest benefits of using a hybrid furnace is its ability to provide cool air during the summer months, negating the need for a separate air conditioning unit.