Benefits of Combining Electric and Gas Heat
If you live in North Carolina, you know the weather can be a rollercoaster—swelteringly unbearable summers, chilly winters, and everything in between during spring and fall. Keeping your home comfortable year-round can take a toll on your wallet, especially with the high cost of electric heat.
Enter A Dual Fuel System, a smart solution that combines the benefits of electric and gas heating to save you money, improve efficiency, and take advantage of generous subsidies. In this blog, we’ll explore how a dual fuel system works and why it’s a game-changer for North Carolina homeowners. Let’s start here…
What Is a Dual Fuel System?
A dual fuel system pairs an electric heat pump with a gas furnace to provide heating and cooling for your home. The system automatically switches between the two based on outdoor temperatures and energy efficiency.
Electric Heat Pump works efficiently in milder weather (above 30–40°F) for both heating and cooling. It transfers heat rather than generating it, making it highly energy-efficient.
A Gas Furnace kicks in during colder temperatures when the heat pump becomes less efficient. Gas furnaces provide quick, powerful heat at a lower cost than electric heating in extreme cold.
This hybrid approach ensures your home stays comfortable while minimizing energy costs, no matter the season.
Why Dual Fuel Systems Shine in North Carolina’s Climate
North Carolina’s climate is notoriously variable, with average winter lows dipping into the 20s and occasional plunges below freezing, while summers often soar into the 90s with high humidity. A dual fuel system is perfectly suited to handle these swings.
- Year-Round Efficiency: In spring, fall, and mild winter days, the electric heat pump handles heating and cooling with exceptional efficiency, reducing your reliance on fossil fuels.
- During colder winter spells, the gas furnace takes over, providing cost-effective warmth when electric heating would be prohibitively expensive.
- Cost Savings: Electric heat is notoriously expensive in North Carolina, where utilities like Duke Energy report that heating can account for 50–60% of a home’s winter energy bill. Heat pumps use significantly less electricity for cooling than for heating, but their efficiency drops in sub-freezing temperatures.
- Natural gas, on the other hand, is often cheaper per unit of heat output during cold weather. By switching to gas when temperatures drop, dual fuel systems can save homeowners 20–40% on heating costs compared to all-electric systems. Gas furnaces provide rapid, consistent heat, ensuring your home stays cozy during those rare but brutal North Carolina cold snaps.
- Two in One: In summer, the heat pump doubles as an efficient air conditioner, keeping you cool without spiking your electric bill.
Additional Benefits of Dual Fuel Systems
While gas furnaces rely on fossil fuels, dual fuel systems reduce overall energy consumption by using the more efficient heat pump for most of the year. This can lower your carbon footprint compared to an all-electric system, especially if your electricity comes from coal-heavy grids.
As North Carolina transitions to cleaner energy sources, the efficiency of heat pumps will become even more environmentally friendly.
Dual fuel systems also offer redundancy. If one system needs maintenance, the other can keep your home comfortable.
Energy-efficient upgrades like dual fuel systems are attractive to homebuyers, potentially boosting your property’s resale value.
The Best For Raleigh North Carolina Homeowners
Dual fuel systems are a smart investment that delivers year-round savings, enhanced comfort, and environmental benefits. By combining the efficiency of an electric heat pump with the cost-effectiveness of a gas furnace, these systems are tailor-made for the state’s unpredictable climate. Plus, with utility subsidies driven by the need to reduce winter energy spikes, there’s never been a better time to make the switch.
Ready to explore a dual fuel system for your home? Contact Greer’s Heating & Air. Your wallet—and the North Carolina grid—will thank you!
