Colorado Carrier High Efficiency Heat Pumps Hybrid Heat Lower Utility Bills Federal Tax Credits

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Most Coloradoans are familiar with air conditioners, but the term heat pump is relatively new to most in our state. While an air conditioner provides cooling only, a heat pump provides both heating and cooling, and operates year around.

How a heat pump works

In hot weather, a heat pump works exactly like an air conditioner. It extracts the heat out of the indoor air and moves it outside. In cold weather, a heat pump reverses, and actually extracts heat from the outdoor air and moves it indoors. The efficiency of a heat pump is directly related to the outdoor temperature. Because heat is extracted from the outside air, the colder the outside air, the less efficient it is to extract heat, which is why heat pumps are more popular in states with milder winters.

A typical heat pump system consists of the outdoor unit with an indoor fan coil (also known as an electric furnace). It is not uncommon for a fan coil to have accessory heat strips to boost the temperature of the air being delivered in the home.

Heat Pump versus Gas Furnace system

The payback for a heat pump versus a gas furnace will vary, depending on the cost of gas and electricity in your area. A heat pump split system operates only on electricity, while a gas furnace split system operates on electricity during the cooling season and natural gas or propane during the heating season. Rural areas dependent on propane would most likely benefit from a heat pump split system.

Other considerations are federal tax credits and utility rebates. Many electric co-ops such as United Power offer substantial rebates for heat pumps.

Hybrid Heat (Dual Fuel) System

A Dual Fuel Hybrid HeatTM system combines a heat pump with a gas furnace. A thermostat with a dual fuel function is required to make this combination work, but it offers the best of both worlds. The Heat Pump runs in cooling during the hot season. In winter, the heat pump operates in heating mode on the milder days, and the gas furnace will kick on during the colder days when gas heating is the most efficient fuel source. With Carrier´s Infinity Control, you set the balance point to automatically select the most efficient energy source.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

On February 19, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus into law. Part of the $787 billion dollar package included domestic spending on infrastructure, including the energy sector. Tax credits are available on high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, including gas furnaces, air conditioners and heap pumps that meet certain criteria. Today, Carrier Corporation has more products that qualify for federal tax credits than any other HVAC manufacturer. Turn to the Experts.

To find a Carrier dealer near you, visit us at www.carriercolorado.com