- Dual fuel 76%
- Ducted heat pump 21%
- Furnace and AC 3%
Two ways to heat with a heat pump
Dual fuel. The heat pump goes outside where the AC was, and its coil sits on top of a gas furnace inside. The heat pump heats and cools most of the year. The furnace takes over below a temperature you set at the thermostat.
All electric. An air handler replaces the furnace. It's a blower and coil in one cabinet, usually with electric heat strips as backup, and gas no longer heats the house.
How they compare
Dual fuel is the easier fit for an older Denver house. The furnace covers the coldest nights, so the heat pump can be sized for cooling and most of the heating. Most of our customers replacing the whole system choose it.
All electric asks more of the heat pump and your panel. The outdoor unit has to heat the house on a single-digit night, and heat strips need their own large circuit. In return you have no furnace to maintain and no gas heating bill.
How to choose
If your furnace is young, keep it and add a heat pump. If both need replacing and your panel has room, ask for both setups on one quote. The heat pump installation page on unicolorado.com covers both.
Common questions
Can I go all electric later?
Yes. A dual fuel system can become all electric by replacing the furnace with an air handler when it wears out, as long as the heat pump is sized for the full winter load.