If you’re a homeowner, it’s likely that you’re always looking for a way to improve your house and save money in the meantime. Whether you’re in the market for a new heating system this winter or you have a feeling your air conditioner won’t make it through next summer, you’d do well to consider a dual fuel system—also known as a dual fuel heat pump.
The dual fuel system—a combination of a heat pump and furnace—can be integrated from a heat pump system you already have in place or it can be installed as a brand new system. The heat pump portion, in the winter, works by pulling in warm air from the outside and expelling cold air outdoors through a refrigerant process. The obstacle is, when temperatures get too cold, a heat pump can struggle—which is where the furnace part of this equation comes in.
But is this right solution for your home? Read on, and then you can decide.
A dual fuel system is one that uses two different fuel sources interchangeably. Its primary mode of operation is a heat pump, meaning it cools you down in the summer and keeps you warm in the winter (all while using electricity). Its secondary mode of operation is that of a gas furnace, for those times of the summer where you want a little something extra.
Before replacing your furnace with another furnace, or going straight to a brand-new heat pump system that you’ve heard so many good things about, consider the middle option: the dual fuel system.
Heaters serve as far more than a luxury during our cold winter nights. You need yours to stay warm and comfortable when the temperatures drop, and if trouble arises, it can turn your home into an icebox in a matter of hours. This is problematic for any home in the area, but especially homes with vulnerable family members, such as infants or the elderly. 
Our winter temperatures don’t get as low as they do further east, but cold weather is still fairly common this time of year, and most homeowners will still need their furnaces to run on a daily basis in order to keep their homes comfortable. If you have an older heater and it’s on its last legs, a repair call may need to turn into a heating replacement rather than try to push it further. But how can you tell? What’s the best way to determine if a breakdown in the middle of winter is enough to warrant a new furnace, or if it can keep going with a little work?
Winter will be here this week, and chances are you’re already running your furnace on a daily basis. You need to keep a close eye on the system for signs of trouble. In most cases, there are usually telltale symptoms letting you know that a problem is getting bigger. By taking notice, you can call in a repair technician and get the issue fixed before it causes a sudden breakdown in the middle of a cold spell. And it’s simple enough to pay attention to anything that may be amiss.
Winter is closing in fast, and with temperatures already dropping, chances are you’ve been using your heating system on a regular basis for some time already. If there are any problems with your heating system, now is the time to get them fixed. Doing so means you won’t get caught by surprise when a cold front hits and your heater suffers from a sudden breakdown. It also means you have time to schedule repairs at your leisure, instead of scrambling in the middle of winter.