It is called dual fuel because the HVAC machine changes from electric to gas based on the weather.
I read online about how energy efficient heat pumps are. They take existing heat in the air quality and push it inside or outside the home. It is a much cheaper, cleaner way of providing heating rather than burning fuel. It is also ductless in that you can have zone control to save even more money. Not every room in the house needs to get HVAC if you don’t want it too. Another pro is that a heat pump provides both heating and cooling in a single unit. That is one unit to get repairs, service and installation costs on. After seriously considering a heat pump and almost pulling the trigger, I did one more research day. I realized that a heat pump can’t work full time in my area. My weather drops below freezing quite a bit. A heat pump can’t provide heating in temperatures under 40 degrees, there simply is no heat energy. Thankfully my local HVAC dealer made a recommendation. He told me that there are dual fuel systems for colder areas such as mine. This is where one machine is basically a gas furnace and heat pump rolled to one. It is called dual fuel because the HVAC machine changes from electric to gas based on the weather. Most of the time the heat pump is working to provide air conditioning and heating in the home to save money. When the temperatures drop below freezing, the system changes to gas and tags in the furnace to save the day. Everything is automatically done. It is the most energy efficient option for a colder climate.