Waywest Mechanical installs dual-fuel heating systems in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. A dual-fuel system pairs an electric air-source heat pump with a natural gas furnace, using the heat pump for most of the heating season and switching to the furnace automatically when outdoor temperatures drop. It also provides summer cooling. Waywest is TSBC licensed for the gas work, and eligible systems may qualify for rebates.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Why choose dual-fuel?
Dual-fuel is a practical middle path for homes already on natural gas:
- Lower emissions and running costs than gas alone, because the heat pump does most of the work
- Reliable heat on the coldest days, from a furnace that does not lose capacity as temperatures fall
- Summer cooling from the heat pump
- Uses your existing gas service and ductwork in many homes
- Redundancy — if one system needs service, the other can often keep the house warm
It suits households who want to cut gas use significantly without giving up the security of gas heat.
How it works
The heat pump's outdoor unit connects to a coil on top of the furnace. A compatible thermostat or control board decides which system runs:
- Mild and cool days: heat pump only
- Cold days below the changeover point: furnace takes over
- Summer: heat pump cools the house
The furnace blower moves air for both, through the same ducts.
Setting the changeover right
The changeover temperature is where much of the benefit is won or lost. Set it too high and the furnace runs more than it needs to. Set it too low and the heat pump struggles while backup heat kicks in anyway.
We set it based on the heat pump's rated capacity at low temperatures, the house's heat loss, and current energy prices, and we explain how to adjust it if prices change.
Installation options
Add a heat pump to a newer furnace. If the furnace is in good shape and compatible, we add the outdoor unit, coil and controls.
Replace both together. For older furnaces, a matched heat pump and high-efficiency furnace installed together gives the best performance and usually the cleanest rebate path.
Either way, the gas work is completed and permitted under Waywest's Technical Safety BC gas licence, and the ductwork is checked for heat pump airflow — see ductwork.
Maintenance
A dual-fuel system has two sets of equipment to look after. One annual visit can cover both: furnace combustion and safety checks, and heat pump coil cleaning, refrigerant and electrical checks. See maintenance plans.
Service area
Waywest installs dual-fuel heating in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan, the Comox Valley and across our Vancouver Island service area.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
What is a dual-fuel heating system?
A dual-fuel system combines an electric heat pump and a gas furnace sharing the same ductwork and thermostat. The heat pump heats the home in mild and cool weather, and the furnace takes over when it is colder, so the most efficient or cost-effective source is used at any given temperature.
When does a dual-fuel system switch to the furnace?
The switch happens at a changeover temperature set in the controls, chosen based on the heat pump's capacity, the home's heat loss, and electricity and gas prices. On Vancouver Island, the heat pump typically handles the large majority of heating hours.
Can I add a heat pump to my existing gas furnace?
Often, yes, if the furnace is in good condition and compatible with a heat pump coil and controls, and the ductwork can handle the airflow. If the furnace is old, replacing both together usually gives better results.
Are dual-fuel systems eligible for rebates?
Some FortisBC and provincial programs have offered rebates for dual-fuel or hybrid heating systems. Eligibility rules change, so Waywest checks current programs for your equipment before you commit.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.