However, once it dips below, the heat pump struggles
Living in the northeastern part of the country is a challenge because of the weather. We deal with extreme conditions all year round. The temperature can fluctuate anywhere from the mid nineties down to negative twenty-five degrees. In the summer, the humidity is always a problem. The moisture causes issues with mold, mildew and bacteria, and the air feels sticky and heavy. In the winter, overly dry hair makes us more susceptible to cold and flu, aggravates allergy and asthma symptoms and can damage wood furnishings. There is rarely a time when we don’t rely on either heating or cooling. The weather forecast commonly calls for high winds, torrential downpours, hail, freezing rain, white-outs and even something called thunder-snow. I have spent a small fortune to make sure my home is comfortable no matter what the weather brings. I invested into a hybrid heating system to not only cover all conditions but maximize energy efficiency and trim running costs. Maintaining ideal indoor temperature control accounts for right around fifty percent of our household energy use, and those expenses add up. The hybrid heating system combines an electric heat pump and a natural gas furnace, allowing us to switch between the most effective system for demands. The heat pump handles cooling throughout the summer and does a great job of handling excess humidity. It works by simply moving existing heat from one location to another. The process of using ambient heat provides especially energy efficient heating while the outdoor temperature remains above freezing. However, once it dips below, the heat pump struggles. The furnace automatically takes over.