As the scorching heat of summer engulfs Ottawa, it’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. While we may not be thinking about heating season and furnace repairs at the moment, it’s essential to be proactive, especially with the current rebate programs available. Now is the perfect time to consider replacing your home’s heating system, and by adding a heat pump to your current furnace, you can enjoy enhanced efficiency and savings. In this article, we’ll delve into the benefits of incorporating a heat pump into your existing furnace, the redundancy it offers, and how to optimize your furnace purchase in Ottawa while leveraging rebates.
Can You Add a Heat Pump to Your Current Ottawa Furnace?
When contemplating the purchase of a heat pump, there are a few factors to consider during the buying process. Are you aiming to eliminate natural gas usage and transition to full electric heating? If reducing reliance on fossil fuels aligns with your goals, you’ll need to replace your furnace with an air handler. However, for homeowners seeking a more gradual approach without completely eliminating gas, adding a heat pump to the existing furnace is a popular choice.
Several considerations come into play, including the type of heat pump, your current furnace type, and the infrastructure in place. If you have a relatively new, high-end gas furnace, it makes sense to augment it with a heat pump. Our HVAC specialists can recommend a compatible heat pump that seamlessly integrates with your current furnace. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that incorporating this advanced appliance into your heating system is easier than you might think.
How Does a Heat Pump Work with Traditional Gas Systems in Ottawa?
Most Ottawa homeowners are familiar with the operation of gas furnaces. A heat pump functions in harmony with a traditional gas system, providing year-round comfort while saving money and benefiting the environment. During the cooling mode, a heat pump operates just like an air conditioner, utilizing coils to extract heat from the home and expel it outdoors. Simultaneously, the furnace fan distributes the cool, dehumidified air throughout your home. In winter, the process reverses. The heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air and delivers it indoors, with the furnace fan distributing the warm air through the ductwork. Once temperatures dip below a certain threshold, the heat pump switches off, and the gas furnace takes over.
This automated process can be customized based on your preferences. We can establish an “economic balance point” that determines the temperature at which it’s more cost-effective to run either the gas furnace or the heat pump. Alternatively, we can configure the system to maximize the heat pump’s performance, with the gas furnace only activating when temperatures drop significantly (below -30°C). This option may incur slightly higher costs but can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Regardless of your goals or existing furnace, there’s undoubtedly a heat pump solution suitable for your needs.
Advantages of a Hybrid Furnace/Heat Pump System
Combining a heat pump with a gas furnace results in a hybrid heating system, offering numerous advantages compared to both standard furnaces and fully electric systems.
Advantages Compared to Traditional Gas Furnaces:
- Highly efficient cooling capabilities.
- Lower operational costs at mild temperatures compared to natural gas, and significantly cheaper than propane or oil.
- Substantial reduction in carbon footprint, contributing to a greener environment.
- Quieter operation in cooling mode compared to air conditioners.
- Redundancy of having two appliances—should one fail, the other remains functional.
Advantages Compared to Fully Electric Heat Pump Systems:
- Existing infrastructure is usually compatible, minimizing the need for panel upgrades or ductwork modifications.
- Lower operating costs and more affordable upfront investment.
- Greater reliability during emergency situations, as hybrid systems can run smoothly on generators. (Please note that fully electric systems also offer their own advantages, making them a viable option for certain situations.)
Optimizing Rebates in Ottawa When Purchasing a Furnace
When buying a new furnace in Ottawa, coupling it with a central heat pump can help offset costs significantly. Currently, rebates of up to $7,100 are available! By installing a qualifying system that includes a cold climate heat pump, you may even replace your furnace at no additional cost. At Greener Home Ottawa, we specialize in navigating the rebate landscape and can assist in coordinating the required audits for you.
Make Your Home Greener and More Efficient with a Heat Pump
With the fall season fast approaching, now is the ideal time to upgrade your home’s heating system. By adding a heat pump to your current furnace, you can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize your environmental impact. Take advantage of the available rebates in Ottawa and embark on your journey towards a greener home today.
