Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Duel Fuel question

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pgtsounder
10-01-09, 08:14 AM
We have an old octopus furnace (oil) with asbestos-taped ductwork in our basement which probably needs replacing. I'd like to take advantage of a weatherization program and gas conversion rebate program with one utility in our area, while also making use of a heat pump rebate with our electricity supplier. My question: is it feasible to have a gas furnace installed first, along with gas hot water heating, to take advantage of the conversation rebate, then have a heat pump installed later. In other words, is it feasible to install a duel fuel system in stages?
I guess one other possibility would be to use our existing oil furnace as backup? (the house was built in 1917, and the furnace was probably installed then!)
House is about 1800 square feet, two stories, unfinished basement.

Thanks

Art


dun11
10-01-09, 11:08 AM
It would be cheaper to have both installed at the same time rather then do one now and one later.

dac122
10-01-09, 12:44 PM
Yes, you could have the furnace and ductwork installed initially and then the heat pump later on. In fact, that is probably the order in which they will be installed. But you really want the system ductwork designed from the get go to have heat pump and its indoor coil. I suspect you will get a better deal when negotiating everything at once instead of in two pieces.

If money is an issue and you just can't swing the heat pump right now, you could have that discussion up front with the installed so they could have the system prepped to launch the next phase. You might get almost the same price.