As the temperatures continue to drop this fall, families engage in the balancing act of maintaining a comfortable living space. While it’s too chilly to go without heat, at times, the hot air can feel stifling. If you’re looking for the perfect happy medium, talk to your heating contractor about installing a dual-fuel heat system. In the following guide, you can get better acquainted with this setup and the benefits it boasts.

What Is a Dual-Fuel Heat System?

Essentially, a dual-heat system is a heat pump used in conjunction with a gas furnace. While you may be familiar with one or the other, the combination of these two reliable fixtures can take your heating routine to the next level. On its own, a heat pump sucks in air from outdoors and heats it before funneling it indoors during the winter. During the summer, it cools outdoor air and pumps it indoors. A gas furnace only operates in the cooler months, as it turns fuel into warm air for your family to enjoy.

So what makes the sum superior to its parts? Heat pumps are better for heating homes when the weather is cool or mildly cold, while gas furnaces are best for extremely cold winter days. While the heat pump is powered by electricity, it’s connected to a coil on top of the gas-powered furnace, which allows the two systems to communicate without the intervention of a heating contractor.

What Are the Benefits?

When you have both of these temperature control systems working to your advantage, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. In fall or spring, you might feel uncomfortable without any heat, but the strong heat provided by the gas furnace is too much. While you could open your windows, this would force the gas furnace to work harder, decreasing its efficiency.

However, if your home is equipped with a dual-fuel heat system, you can transfer the responsibility to the heat pump, which is capable of a milder temperature shift. When the temperatures become extreme come January, the heat pump will send news of the outdoor temperature to your gas furnace, cueing it to turn on.

Since gas is more cost-effective for heating than electricity, this transition will save you from outlandish winter bills. In addition to increased energy-efficiency, dual-fuel heating systems offer a much higher level of convenience for modern homeowners with their communicative setup.

If you’re ready to enjoy the cooler months in a climate-controlled home, turn to the expert heating contractors at Total Tech of Caldwell, WV, for assistance. They will be happy to teach you more about dual-fuel heat systems and show you how they can change everyday life in your household. They also offer 24-hour emergency repair services, so you can always count on a helping hand at an inconvenient time. For more information on their services, visit the website or call (304) 497-3849 to set up an appointment with a heating contractor.