What’s the difference between a heat pump and a dual-fuel system?
Dual-fuel systems combine a standard (non-cold-climate) heat pump with a gas furnace, like a hybrid system. The heat pump handles most of the heating, but when outdoor temperatures drop too low for a standard system to handle (usually 40°F or 4°C), the system switches to the gas furnace for heating. Dual-fuel systems still burn fossil fuels and add unnecessary complexity to a home that doesn’t need it. A modern cold-climate heat pump can deliver reliable, year-round comfort on its own—just ask our thousands of customers, or the 70% of Norwegian households that trust heat pumps to stay warm.
What are the pros and cons of dual-fuel heating?
We know what you’re thinking: “Maybe I should go dual fuel—just to be safe.” It sounds like a sensible compromise, right? Keep your gas furnace as a backup, let the heat pump handle the milder days, and switch over when it gets really cold. But here’s the thing: you don’t need a backup plan when your primary system is actually built for real winters.
Today’s cold-climate heat pumps—like the ones we install—are specifically engineered to operate efficiently in subzero temperatures, down to –22°F (–30°C). That’s not wishful thinking or marketing spin. It’s proven performance, tested and trusted in places with winters far harsher than yours. Norway? Sweden? Most of Europe? They’re already all-in on heat pumps. And guess what—they’re not freezing.
When you go all-electric with Jetson, you get a single system that handles both heating and cooling, all year long, without burning a single drop of fossil fuel. No toggling between two pieces of equipment. No scheduling maintenance for two systems. No noisy gas burners, no pilot lights, no carbon monoxide risks. Just one streamlined, efficient, modern setup designed for comfort, safety, and simplicity.
Dual fuel might seem like the “safe” option, but it’s really just a way to hold onto yesterday’s technology a little longer. The truth? Every home still running dual fuel is just one step away from going fully electric. So why not skip the half-measure and step into the future now—with a system built to handle it all, even when it’s freezing outside?
Fossil Fuels
Dual fuel systems still burn gas for much of the year, while switching to an all-electric heat pump is a cleaner, future-proof way to heat your home.
Performance
Modern cold-climate heat pumps work down to –22°F, making dual fuel systems unnecessary—even in freezing conditions. In fact, over 70% of homes in Norway rely on heat pumps alone.
Technology
A dual fuel system is like carrying a flip phone just in case—modern heat pumps do it all, no backup needed.
Dangers
Going all-electric makes your home safer by eliminating gas-related risks like carbon monoxide leaks.
Add Value to Your Property
Adding an all-electric heat pump can boost your home’s value—buyers love clean, efficient upgrades that are built for the future.
Maintenance
Two systems mean twice the maintenance, more complexity, and more chances for something to break.
Source of Misinformation
Most traditional HVAC contractors are trained in gas, not heat pumps—and they often promote dual systems because they’re more familiar with these older technologies, and more profitable for them to sell and maintain (more costly for you).
Is a dual-fuel system better for freezing temperatures?
No. A dual-fuel system can switch to a gas furnace in freezing temperatures—but that doesn’t make it better. It just means the system is falling back on an outdated solution when it gets tough. Why rely on a Band-Aid when modern technology solves the problem outright? Cold-climate heat pumps are engineered from the ground up to handle subzero temperatures without skipping a beat—or burning a single drop of fossil fuel. They deliver reliable winter comfort without the added cost, complexity, or emissions of a backup gas system.
Dual fuel adds more equipment, more maintenance, more things that can go wrong, and more carbon in the atmosphere. And for what? The same comfort you’d get from a properly sized, all-electric heat pump—just with extra parts and a higher bill. The truth is, most homeowners who are pushed toward dual fuel are being guided by outdated thinking. When your installer isn’t trained in the latest technology, you’re only going to hear about the old options. That’s how the myths about heat pumps keep hanging around, even though today’s systems outperform gas in every category that matters: efficiency, safety, comfort, and climate impact.
So if you’re reading this, consider it your invitation to step into the future—with one system, one install, and zero compromises. Because at Jetson, we don’t believe in backup plans. We believe in better plans.
Which is cheaper: heat pump or dual fuel?
A heat pump is cheaper to operate than a dual-fuel system because it uses electricity far more efficiently than burning gas. Modern cold-climate heat pumps can deliver 2 to 5 times more heat per unit of energy, even in freezing temperatures. Gas furnaces, by contrast, max out around 95% efficiency—meaning you’re always losing energy (and money) in the process. So even when electricity rates are higher, the math still favors an all-electric system.
Going dual fuel adds costs across the board. You’re paying for both a heat pump and a gas furnace, plus a gas line if you don’t already have one, and extra controls to manage switching between systems. That’s more equipment to install, maintain, and eventually replace. With today’s heat pumps fully capable of handling winter on their own, most homeowners find they save more—upfront and over time—by skipping the gas altogether.
How do I know if I need dual fuel or a cold-climate heat pump?
You don’t need dual-fuel systems anymore—the technology has moved on. A modern cold-climate heat pump is designed to handle your home’s heating needs even in subzero temperatures, eliminating the old worry that led people to pair heat pumps with gas furnaces. If your system is properly sized, a cold-climate heat pump provides year-round comfort without the fossil fuels, extra cost, or complexity of dual fuel.
The Future Runs on One System, Not Two
When you look at the facts, the dual-fuel debate isn’t really a debate at all. Modern cold-climate heat pumps outperform gas systems in efficiency, safety, comfort, and cost—without needing a furnace riding shotgun. They work in subzero temperatures, eliminate fossil fuel dependence, simplify your home’s infrastructure, and reflect where the world is already heading.