Why Should I Consider a Hybrid Heating and Cooling System?

The spring and fall seasons are often a good time to think about budgeting for a new home heating and cooling system, as it can bring the inadequacies of an older system into sharp focus. If you've been faced by rising home heating bills, and if your boiler cost more than you expected to service this year, then it might be time to invest in one of the newer more energy efficient systems out there. But what exactly is a hybrid system, and how could increase your home comfort? 

A Quick Explanation of How a Hybrid Heating and Cooling System Works

A hybrid system is one that uses two different types of fuel to heat your home. It commonly combines a heat pump with a gas or electric furnace. The beauty of this system is that it will use the heat pump to warm up a home until the temperature outdoors reaches a pre-set degree. Once the temperature drops below this range then the heat pump is switched off, and the hybrid heating and cooling system switches to using the gas or electric furnace. This is because although heat pumps are normally incredibly efficient at helping to give energy savings, they don't work so well if the temperature becomes extremely cold. This gives you the best of both worlds, as a dual fuel, hybrid system will reduce the amount of gas or electricity you use giving you significant savings on your energy bills. As soon as the temperature warms up a bit and exceeds the pre-set level once more then your heat pump will take over from your gas or electric furnace. You won't even realize how cold it's gotten outside as there'll be no change in your levels of home comfort. The only thing that will change is your monthly energy bills.  Subsequently, the process is reversed for cooling your home.

It's Important to Get the Right Hybrid Heating and Cooling System

It is important to get the correct hybrid heating and cooling system installed for your home and this is something that requires an experienced installer. It's necessary to calculate the size of heat pump required to comfortably heat and cool your home, eliminating any cool or warm spots, and the correct size of furnace or air conditioner. Your installer will also be able to advise you as to the correct way to set up your system, and how to choose the most economical temperature setting based on the cost of your utility providers. It is very important to get this right as otherwise you can't reap the full benefit of having a hybrid heating and cooling system.

Making your Hybrid Heating and Cooling System Even More Efficient

At this stage it may be worthwhile thinking of ways to improve the efficiency of your system even further, and one way to do this is to have a new programmable thermostat fitted. This will allow you to accurately set up your system to give the greatest energy savings while still increasing your own comfort levels. Most people find their heating bill is a major part of their monthly outgoings, so fitting a new hybrid heating and cooling system could reduce these costs by up to a third. This is a truly significant saving and is well worth considering if your system is getting old.

How Can Controlled Humidity Lead to Greater Energy Savings?

We all know too much humidity can cause mold to grow in the home, and that this can especially be a problem in bathrooms, but too little humidity can also be bad for home comfort levels, and also for energy bills. Heating and cooling the house is one of the main monthly expenses involved in running a home, and it can often be quite difficult to keep the temperature just right so it pleases all the occupants. This can be especially tricky during the winter months when a drop in the outside temperatures can lead to heartfelt requests to turn up the thermostat, but is turning up the heat really the answer? 

Humidity Levels Need to Be Balanced When You Heat Your Home

When the thermostat is kept high then the humidity levels can drop quite dramatically during the winter months but this won't necessarily lead to increased home comfort and extra warmth. Some people don't realize that the humidity in the air inside the house controls the amount of heat the property will hold. If the air is more humid it can hold more heat, and this makes humidity an extremely important factor in home comfort. If your home is especially dry during the winter months then your heat pump or boiler will need to work harder to maintain the temperature as the drier air simply cannot hold as much heat as you'd like. One solution is to simply place a lot of bowls of water around your house to try and increase humidity levels, but this really is a bit basic and should only ever be considered as a stopgap until you can get a proper system in place.

Using a Whole Home Humidifier

If your home is exceptionally dry then a whole home humidifier is definitely the best way to go. There are so many different types on the market so it's best to consult a qualified professional who will be able to tell you the size and type that is right for your home. It is easily installed by your heating and cooling technician and is designed to deliver the perfect level of humidity to increase home comfort. You'll notice you and your family feel more comfortable even though the thermostat is lower, leading to greater energy savings. Turning down your thermostat by just 1° could save you up to 4% on your heating bill.

Increased Home Humidity Can Lead to Better Health for Your Family

If your home is exceptionally dry then you and your family may have noticed a number of unpleasant symptoms. Allergies can be aggravated, you're likely to suffer from more sore throats, and may notice your skin has dry patches. Anyone with asthma is likely to notice their symptoms increase. Even worse, some viruses can thrive in low humidity so you're at increased risk of catching respiratory ailments such as colds and flu. You'll notice the difference soon after installing a whole home humidifier, as it's likely you'll enjoy a better night’s sleep and will generally feel more comfortable. It is also healthier for your home, as a lack of humidity can increase the risk of wooden floors splitting, or wooden furniture becoming damaged.