A couple of years ago, we needed to replace our furnace.
It was the perfect opportunity to finally add central air conditioning to the home. I was tired of struggling with window air conditioners. When the HVAC contractor came to the house to provide a free estimate, I asked about cooling system options. He recommended we install a heat pump rather than an air conditioner. I was initially skeptical. I knew that a heat pump costs a lot more to purchase and implement than an air conditioner. After doing some research, I learned that the combination of a furnace and heat pump is called a dual fuel system and offers incredible cost-saving potential. The big difference between an air conditioner and a heat pump, is that one provides strictly cooling and the other offers both heating and cooling. Throughout the summer, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner. It pulls heat out of the air to create a cooling effect. When the weather cools down, the flow of refrigerant reverses to bring heat into the home. The system takes advantage of free ambient heat found in the outdoor air. The absence of a combustion process eliminates the dangers and environmental impact of greenhouse gasses. Plus, heat pumps are especially energy efficient. They cost less to run than a gas furnace. The weather in my local area allows us to run the heat pump for the majority of the year. We only switch over to the furnace once the outside temperature dips below freezing. At that point, the furnace is more effective.