| Dual-fuel heat pumps are truly the "best of both | | | | limited in this respect, a duel-fuel pump can turn |
| worlds." These pumps take the advantages of | | | | on and relieve the electrical system, bringing you |
| both gas powered and electrical powered heat | | | | more heat at a lower cost. |
| pumps and eliminate the disadvantages. These | | | | You wouldn't want to use a gas-powered pump |
| systems are technically air source electric heat | | | | constantly, as this could be expensive. However, if |
| pumps, but they combine that system with a gas | | | | there were a way to combine the cost-efficiency |
| furnace. This enables consumers to enjoy | | | | of the air pump with the heat efficiency of the |
| cost-efficient and very high temperature heat in | | | | duel-fuel heat pump, then you would have access |
| practically any season. | | | | to a superior system, and one far less |
| One of the primary disadvantages of air source | | | | complicated than using geothermal heat pumps. |
| electric pumps is that they do not function quite | | | | Whenever there are warm or cool temperatures, |
| as well in extremely cold temperatures. If you are | | | | electrical heat will suffice and will continue to be |
| living in a below freezing region and have to | | | | cost-efficient (probably the only advantage |
| contend with -35 degree temperatures for | | | | electrical technology brings you). This type of heat |
| months on end, a typical air electric source pump | | | | is appropriate for cool days, and occasionally cold |
| will eventually prove to be too problematic. This | | | | days in autumn or early winter. However, by the |
| device extracts heat from the cold air-naturally, | | | | snowiest periods of the season, the duel-fuel |
| it's going to be unstable, as the weather itself is | | | | pump will activate and bring you a temporary fix |
| unstable. | | | | to your heating problems. |
| Unlike geothermal pumps though, you do not have | | | | Most of these systems activate automatically so |
| to create a complex system of pipes or trenches | | | | you don't have to do anything requiring great |
| to enjoy a more efficient and economic heat | | | | effort or technical know-how. The only |
| solution. You can invest in a dual-fuel pump | | | | disadvantage to speak of is that this technology |
| system and simply turn a gas furnace on to | | | | tends to be expensive. Some units can cost $500 |
| power up your heating mechanism in the coldest | | | | to $1,000 or more. Over the long-term however |
| of days. Whereas air electric source pumps are | | | | you will find some substantial cost savings. |