How A Tankless Water Heater Can Provide Backup Heat

How A Tankless Water Heater Can Provide Backup Heat

Tankless water heaters offer unmatched convenience and energy efficiency, but did you know that they can also play a role in providing your home with backup heat? Let’s explore how a tankless water heater can be integrated with a heat pump to offer auxiliary heat when you need it most.

Tankless water heater by Navien close up

What Is Auxiliary/Backup Heat?

Traditional electric heat pumps are efficient in mild weather, but when outdoor temperatures drop below 40°F, they can struggle to keep your home warm. This is when the auxiliary backup heating system kicks in. Typical auxiliary heat is expensive to operate because it uses an inefficient electric heating system.

There’s a better solution: hybrid heat pumps.

What Is A Hybrid Heat Pump?

A hybrid heat pump combines the benefits of electric and propane heat in one efficient system. It consists of two parts: the primary electric heat pump and a hydronic backup system.

Primary Electric Heat Pump

The main component of a hybrid heat pump operates just like a traditional electric system. It’s a cost-efficient, reliable way to keep your home comfortable and cozy in mild weather.

Hydronic Backup System

When temperatures drop and the electric heat pump can’t maintain the desired indoor temperature, the hydronic heating system takes over as the auxiliary backup. A hydronic heating system uses hot water to heat a space. By circulating hot water over a heating coil, the system transfers heat from the water to release warm air into a living space.

Hall technician installing a tankless water heater

Tankless Water Heaters Are The Perfect Fit For A Hybrid Heat Pump

We already know propane-powered tankless water heaters are energy efficient and offer hot water on demand. Combined with a hybrid heat pump, they offer dependable, instant warmth, lower operating costs, and improved efficiency compared to all-electric systems.