For the first few years after purchasing our home, we got by with a furnace in the winter and box fans in the summer.
When we started looking into central cooling, the HVAC contractor recommended a dual fuel system.
I’d never heard of this before and did some research into it. A dual fuel system partners an electric heat pump with a forced air gas furnace. The initial start up cost is much higher than simply buying a conventional air conditioner. However, the heat pump provides both heating and cooling capacity and is especially energy efficient. It costs a lot less to run than either an air conditioner or the furnace. Plus, it provides effective dehumidification, making the heat pump a superior choice for summer temperature control. When the weather cools off, the heat pump reverses operation. It works by finding ambient heat in the outdoor air and moving it indoors by way of refrigerant. Because the heat pump doesn’t burn fossil fuels, it’s very safe, clean and environmentally responsible. There’s no greenhouse gasses and no combustion byproducts such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. There are no hot surfaces, fumes or threats to air quality. Modern heat pumps typically feature advanced filtration systems that help to remove contaminants from the indoor air. When the outside temperature drops below freezing, the heat pump struggles to keep up with demand. At that point, the gas furnace automatically starts up. The furnace is powerful enough to handle the most extreme winter weather and maintain a comfortable home. Because the two systems split the workload, they should both last longer. Although there are two components to maintain, this is no different than a conventional heating and cooling system.