The choice of heating system should be carefully considered. There are many reasons why it is of great importance: safety, comfort, reduction of utility costs, and ecological issues. Whether you are building a new house or planning to modernize an existing building, it is worth choosing the optimal heat source. It turns out that in a single building, it is possible to install hybrid systems, combining different heating methods. A hybrid system means installing, for example, a heat pump and a gas-fired boiler. There are many advantages of this type of installation, which are important both in day-to-day operation and long-term assumptions, such as generating savings or positively impacting the environment.
Until recently, there was a belief that this type of system was best chosen for facilities where a gas-fired boiler was already in operation, and a heat pump could be an excellent supplement or alternative, although in reality, it is becoming the main source of heat supplemented by gas. With rising fuel prices, including gas, heating costs are rising, especially where there is no connection to the grid. Buying gas individually indeed means having to spend a large amount. However, supplementing the system with an additional heating device is an ideal choice both from the point of view of economy, ecology, or network efficiency.
It also turns out that for new buildings, this type of installation can be chosen without concern. Moreover, the installation is then easier, and modern controllers make it much easier to manage the system. Therefore, when planning the construction of a house, it is undoubtedly worth considering such an eventuality, taking into account efficiency, safety, or cost.
Why are hybrid heating systems so important for households? Among other reasons, they provide a basis for safety. A perfect example is when, for some reason, problems arise with one of the heat sources. Then the other source can be used, so there is no worry that the house will suddenly get cold or you won’t be able to take a warm shower. Certainly, this fact alone is a good argument for opting for hybrid systems.
Another important aspect is savings. Dynamically changing prices means that a single source of heat can prove costly. However, if those using a particular facility have an alternative, they can opt to heat the building with such a fuel that is cheaper at any given time. The choice of such a heat source will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the wallet and at the same time will not reduce the level of efficiency of the central heating system.
Regardless of the motivations accompanying the installation of a hybrid heating system, it is worth being aware that two independent heat sources, for example, do not have to mean complicated operation. This is because modern equipment uses, among other things, functional controllers that provide so many possibilities that the system is virtually maintenance-free. It is up to the controllers, appropriately programmed, of course, to determine what power level the boiler or pump will reach, or at what point the switch from one source to another will occur. There can be several reasons for such a switchover – a drop in temperature, time of day, or even an increase in price, such as gas.
Modern heat pumps can operate effectively and efficiently even at relatively low temperatures. Of course, the closer to zero degrees, the lower the efficiency of this type of equipment. That is why hybrid gas and heat pump heating works well. When the temperature drops, usually at night, gas is responsible for heating the house, and during the day the primary heat source is the pump.
Modern systems are available on the market. Just use them to effectively manage the operation of, for example, a boiler or heat pump. Diverse functionalities are available, including programming the hours of switching on and off the system or regulating the power level of the boiler. This makes it comfortable, precise, and safe to control the operation of equipment.
Potential investors may be concerned about the higher costs associated with the possible simultaneous operation of two heating sources. However, they are unfounded – it should be noted that a gas boiler and a heat pump never work simultaneously at the same (implicitly, the highest) power. The boiler is generally responsible for supporting the heating, or the two systems operate alternately. Therefore, this is a measure that optimizes not only heating efficiency but also costs. As a result, the house is at the right temperature, and heating bills do not increase, on the contrary – even in the case of higher prices for one fuel, they can fall.
There are households with up to three different heating systems in operation. A great example is hybrid gas heating and photovoltaics supplemented additionally by a heat pump. Environmental aspects should not be forgotten either. Heat pumps, gas boilers, or photovoltaic systems are clean sources of energy, some of them belong to renewable sources, which is very important for the climate.