What is a Dual Fuel Furnace?

A Spotlight on the Lennox ML195 Gas Furnace

Today, there are several ways to heat your home. But in most regions, most homeowners choose one of these three options: gas furnaces, heat pumps, or dual fuel heating systems.

During warmer months, you normally use natural gas for your water heater and stove. But in the winter, your home uses more energy because you’re also firing up your furnace.

A heat pump works like a combination of a furnace and an air conditioner. In the summer, it removes heat from your home and deposits it outdoors. During the cold months, it sucks the heat from outside and moves it to your home.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your trusted heating company in Dellwood, MN that offers all types of home heating systems, including dual fuel furnaces.

Dual Fuel Systems Explained

Also referred to as a hybrid system, a dual fuel system is the fusion of a gas or oil furnace and a heat pump. This technology combines the cooling and heating performance of a heat pump and the consistent heating power of a gas furnace. By integrating the efficiency of a heat pump during its peak efficiency with a high-efficiency gas furnace, a dual fuel system supplies peak efficiency, energy savings, and enhanced comfort levels.

Benefits of a Dual Fuel Furnace

A dual fuel system offers you a minimum of two stages of heat. When the temperature is higher than 35 degrees Fahrenheit or so, a heat pump can draw heat from the outside air for much less compared to operating a furnace. The furnace will only fire up during the cold months when a heat pump won’t be enough to meet your heating requirements.

Heat pumps save energy for their straightforward task: moving heat instead of producing it. In best possible situations, a heat pump can move up to three times more energy than it consumes. On the other hand, a high-efficiency gas furnace is at best 98 percent energy-efficient.

Who are in the Market for a Dual Fuel System?

With dual fuel heating, you get the best of both worlds. You can use your heat pump when it’s a little cold outside but switch to your gas furnace when it gets unbearably cold.

If you already have a working heat pump and want to add a high-efficiency gas furnace into the system, getting a dual fuel furnace will give you the most benefits. Your gas furnace will serve as the main heater using the heat pump’s electric strip only when the temperatures are very low.

If you find heat strips to be too expensive, it’s better to use natural gas when it’s really cold outside. In this scenario, a dual fuel system is the most efficient way to heat your home.

Features of the Lennox ML195 Gas Furnace

Standard Features

Every component of the ML195 has proven itself through extensive testing in our research labs. So you can take comfort knowing the furnace will deliver reliable performance, season after season.

With product registration, the ML195 may be eligible for a 10-year Limited Extended Warranty. Lennox also offers a 5-year Limited Warranty on covered parts and 20-Year Warranty on the Heat Exchanger.

Energy Efficiency

When paired with a Lennox® heat pump, the ML195 creates a system that can automatically alternate between electricity and gas fuel to keep you warm. So you’re always using the most energy-efficient way to keep comfortable.

Compared to older, low-efficiency models, the ML195 has an efficiency rating of 95 percent AFUE that can save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs per year.

The blower compartment of the ML195 is tightly sealed, permitting less than 1% air leakage. This means more of your air and energy go toward keeping you comfortable.

Performance

The ML195 has a Duralok Plus heat exchanger that is constructed from patented ArmorTuf steel that captures waste heat, and a stainless steel secondary heat exchanger that allows the unit to achieve industry-leading efficiency levels. This solid component exceeds industry requirements and extends the furnace’s life.

The ML195 includes special sound-absorbing materials that further reduce sound for even quieter operation.

Its SureLight® ignitor is designed with silicon nitride construction for long product life and reliable operation.

Its SureLight® integrated control board ensures full control of furnace operation.

To further lessen heat loss, Lennox designed the ML195 with an elegantly-styled, durable steel cabinet with high-quality paint finish.

Its robust blower assembly exceeds industry standard airflow for even temperatures and improved comfort.

Call the Heating Pros

For more information about dual fuel systems, call Four Seasons Air Specialists. We are your reliable White Bear Lake furnace installation contractor serving you for more than four decades.