FAQ's
What is Wade Hybrid Heat?
A Wade Hybrid Heating and Cooling system is a forced air heating and cooling system that uses two different energy sources to heat your home.
What do you mean two energy sources?
Whether you use gas, oil or propane to heat your home you can supplement
your fuel consumption with a second source of energy; an electric heat
pump.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is an air conditioner in the summer that reverses during the winter to blow warm air through your ductwork, instead of cold air.
I have always heard that heat pumps are not efficient
in the northern climates. Isn’t that true?
It is true that heat pumps do not produce as much heat when outdoor temperatures are in the 20’s and below, but with Hybrid Heat we are not using the heat pump when temperatures are below 30º degrees. In Pittsburgh more than 50% of our heating hours are when the temperature is above 30º degrees outdoors.
How does the heat pump work in conjunction with a gas, oil or propane furnace?
It is actually very simple. First of all we use a special thermostat made for Hybrid Heat; it is connected to the outdoor temperature sensor. When the thermostat calls for heat it first checks the outside temperature, if the temperature is above 30º (approximately, based on the balance point) the thermostat turns the furnace blower and the heat pump on; heat is blown through the home without the need for gas, oil or propane. If the temperature is below the “balance point” the furnace comes on in the conventional manner.
What is the balance point?
When we size a home for a furnace in Pittsburgh we calculate the BTU’s needed to heat the home to 70º when the outside temperature is 0º. Lets’ say for example an 1800 square foot home requires 80,000 BTU’s to get the temperature inside to 70º when the outside temperature is 0º. How many BTU’s of heat does the home need when the outside temperature is 33 degrees? Answer = 35,000 BTU’s. A heat pump has a maximum BTU output capacity which decreases as the outside temperature decreases. Simply put the colder it gets outside the less heat the heat pump can generate. The balance point is the outdoor temperature at which the heat pump can generate enough heat in order to maintain 70º in the home.
The balance point considers three key factors:
- The outside temperature.
- The amount of heat a particular heat pump can generate.
- The amount of heat required to maintain 70º inside the home.
The point at which the heat required equals the heating output of the heat pump is called the balance point.
How does this save me $$$$$$$$$$?
When considering electric rates that we pay in Pittsburgh (Allegheny Power and Duquesne Light) and the current natural gas rates, it is much less expensive to heat your home with a heat pump than with gas when temperatures are above the balance point. Duquesne Light also gives you a special “add on heat pump” rate during the months of November through April for homes that use a heat pump. This can save you in excess of 50% on your electric rate. The overall savings (when considering the electrical savings and gas, oil or propane) averages between $500 and $800 dollars annually for an 1800 square foot home.
Will I be as comfortable?
When outside temperatures are above the balance point and your heat pump is running, the comfort level will feel no different than what your furnace alone provides.
 How much does the Hybrid System Cost?
The average cost of a Wade Hybrid Heating and Cooling system is approximately $800.00 more than a conventional heating and cooling system. That’s approximately a 1 YEAR PAYBACK!
Keep your money in your pocket not the utility company’s pocket.
Call Wade Heating and Cooling Inc. for a free estimate today.
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