Climate Masters Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Comparing Centralized Heating Systems to Ductless Mini Split Systems

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

Ductless heating systems are not new to the HVAC world, but they may seem new to homeowners. It’s only in recent memory that ductless systems shifted from commercial use into homes. Before then, when people wanted heating in their home, they needed central heating like a furnace or a standard heat pump.

As a homeowner, you now face a major choice with your heating: a centralized system that uses ducts, or a ductless mini split. This isn’t an easy decision to make, and finding an answer depends on your future plans for your home, as well as your home’s current condition. But there is help available: call Climate Masters and speak to our specialists in heating. They are experienced with both central and ductless heating installation in St. Augustine, FL. They’ll assist you with making the right choice for your situation.

How Does a Ductless System Work?

For the most part, ductless systems are heat pumps, and work in the same fashion: moving heat from the outside to the inside. (They also reverse direction to deliver cooling.) The difference is the air distribution system. Instead of a central indoor unit and air handler that send the conditioned air through ducts, mini splits have multiple smaller blower units mounted on the room walls, each connected to the single outdoor unit. These units blow conditioned air directly into the rooms.

Centralized vs. Ductless

The main advantage of using centralized systems is that many homes already have ductwork systems in place, even if they use a radiant heater, for their air conditioner. It makes sense for most homeowners to install a centralized heater to make use of this ductwork. For houses with pre-existing ventilation, ductless installation makes the most sense for add-on rooms.

Where does ductless come out ahead? Not to point out the obvious, but ductless mini split systems don’t require ducts, and that carries some major advantages. It means the air won’t pick up the dust and contamination that can gather in ducts, and there are no ducts that require regular cleaning and repairs to seal leaks. Ductless mini splits also permit zone control without requiring any special installation: individual blower units can be shut off where they aren’t needed. This means large energy savings.

Find the Right System for You

Ductless comes with many advantages, and may sound like the superior choice. However, ductless mini splits are probably best for new construction and any home that doesn’t have ductwork already installed. You’ll need to have installation professionals look over your house to determine if ductless or centralized will work better. Call Climate Masters and make an appointment with our St. Augustine, FL heating installation technicians today and find out which wins for your home: ductless or centralized.

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What to Expect with Geothermal Heating Installation

Friday, March 7th, 2014

Geothermal heating has become popular during the last ten years because it saves homeowners money on their annual bills, provides reliable comfort levels regardless of the outside temperature, and benefits the environment with its low amount of emissions.

However, some people feel a bit nervous about geothermal systems as a heating option. It’s a big step to take that moves them out of the familiar wheelhouse of furnaces and boilers, and the upfront costs can seem intimidating. They may also wonder if the land they live on will even work with geothermal heating and cooling.

We’re here to help you with some information about what you can expect with installation of geothermal heating in St. Augustine, FL. At Climate Masters we understand that this is a major decision, and you want to make sure it’s the right choice for you. We have the experience to help make your geothermal installation as stress-free and effective as possible.

Geothermal May Not Work For Your Home or Property (Although It Probably Will)

It’s true that geothermal heating won’t work for every home. Sometimes there isn’t sufficient space either horizontally or vertically to lay the underground refrigerant coils, or the landscape isn’t appropriate for heat exchange. However, no heating or cooling system will work for every home, and the majority of homes can have effective geothermal heating installed.

Geothermal Installation is Extensive

The refrigerant coils of a geothermal system must be placed down into trenches around your home at least 6–10 feet deep in order for them to work effectively. The process of drilling can require 3–5 days, with trenching and pipe connections requiring 3–7 days. This doesn’t include the indoor work with electrical connections and necessary duct modifications, or the period of design work beforehand. You’ll need to plan in advance and work with your contractor to come up with a timetable that works for you.

Although Expensive, Geothermal Will Pay Back Its Costs—And More

The time, labor, and materials involved give geothermal installation a higher price tag than installing most other home comfort systems. However, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a properly installed geothermal heating and cooling system will pay back its original costs in 5–10 years. With an estimated lifespan of 20 years for the indoor heat pump unit and 50 years for the underground coils, you’ll have many years of savings beyond the payback period.

Don’t take chances with inexperienced installers when it comes to heating installations in St. Augustine, FL. Climate Masters has served St. Johns County since 1988, and we can help you get an excellent geothermal installation that will serve you efficiently for many decades. Give us a call today and ask our professional HVAC specialists about geothermal heating.

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How Heat Pumps Can Save You Money

Wednesday, February 5th, 2014

A heat pump seems like an almost miraculous machine: a single unit that takes the principles of an air conditioner and uses it to provide heating as well. But in theory a heat pump is quite simple: if you’ve ever walked behind the outdoor unit of an air conditioner when it was working, you’ve noticed warm air blowing from its fans. That’s the action of the AC removing heat from indoors and placing it outdoors. So what would happen if you swapped the indoor and outdoor unit? Presto! Heat pumped into your home. A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can switch the direction it moves heat.

But there’s another important advantage to a heat pump aside from its dual function: a heat pump can save you money on heating during the winter. We’ll explain how this works. If you’re interested in heat pump installation, or if you have need for repairs or maintenance on your home heating in St. Augustine, FL, call the skilled technicians at Climate Masters today.

The Secret of a Heat Pump’s Efficient Operation

Okay, it’s not really a “secret.” It’s simply the difference between heat creation and heat exchange. Most heating systems create heat: they burn a fuel source to raise the temperature of air (a furnace) or water (a boiler). This uses a large amount of fuel. In the case of an electric furnace or boiler, it requires an enormous amount of electric current running through the heating elements in order to raise the temperature of the air or water.

It’s different with heat pumps. They also run on electricity, but they do not use this electricity to heat up the air the fans send through their vents. Instead of creating heat, heat pumps move heat around: from the outside to the inside in heating mode, and from the inside to the outside in cooling mode. This process is called heat exchange. The heat pump only needs electricity to run its mechanical parts.

How much of a difference does this make? The U.S. EPA conducted a study to see the difference in heating bills when families switched from a furnace to a heat pump. On average, families paid 30% less per year with a heat pump.

There Has to Be a Downside, Right?

Yes, heat pumps do have one negative… but fortunately, it isn’t one that matters much in Florida. During sub-freezing temperatures, heat pumps can have trouble extracting sufficient heat from outside. Don’t expect this to be a problem in our climate.

Please keep in mind that no matter what advantages a heat pump has, it isn’t necessarily the best choice for your home’s heating in St. Augustine. This is why you’ll need the assistance of experienced professionals, like those at Climate Masters, to find the ideal option for providing you effective and economical heating.

For questions and heating service needs regarding heat pumps in St. Augustine, give us a call today and speak with one of our HVAC specialists!

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Advantages of Installing a Pool Heater

Friday, January 31st, 2014

Even with our beautiful year-round weather in Florida, heating your home’s pool is an essential part of enjoying it. Our winters and falls are mild compared to much of the rest of the country, but if you want to get the most from having your own outdoor pool, you’ll need a proper heater to keep the water inviting all through the year. Even during the summer, you won’t have the sun shining down all the time on your pool to warm it up.

Pool heaters are tricky to install, however. It’s not just the actual installation that is difficult, it’s picking the right size of heater to install. Make sure you have a dependable contractor handling your pool heater installation in St. Augustine, FL. Trust to the experience of Climate Masters for all your pool heater needs.

Why You Should Install a Pool Heater

  • Year-round fun: With a properly sized pool heater, you can keep the pool temperature approximately 10° above what it would normally be without a heater—and this can make all the difference when it comes to whether you want to dive right in or just sit on the edge with your legs dangling in. You can even enjoy your pool through the winter.
  • Enjoy the summer evenings: No matter how warm the nights can be during a Florida summer, without the sun a pool will rapidly become colder and less inviting to swim in. A heater lets your pool become the focus of evening activities as well as day time ones.
  • A better return on your investment: Whether you have a heater installed in your pool or not, you’ll still need to spend money on it each month. If you have less chance to swim and enjoy the pool, you’ll get less value from the pool. Adding a heater will end up as a minimal investment because it will let you enjoy the pool much more during the year. If you schedule regular maintenance on your pool heater, its additional costs should stay low, adding to the value you get from your pool. Have your heater properly installed, maintained, and repaired.

Aside from hiring a professional to install your pool heater in St. Augustine, FL, you should have the installation company also handle heating maintenance and repairs. Keeping your pool heater well-maintained is crucial to keeping it working efficiently for you so you really are getting the best return on your investment.

Climate Masters has served St. Johns County since 1988, and we offer comprehensive and quality work on pool heaters for all different sizes of pools. Contact us today to get started on getting the most out of your pool.

For professional heating services in St. Augustine, give us a call and schedule your next appointment with one of our trained HVAC specialists!

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Which Heating Systems Typically Need to be Repaired Most?

Monday, January 20th, 2014

When you are in the market for a new heater, one concern you probably have is system durability. You don’t want to pick a heater that will need repairs routinely; any good heater should only require repairs on rare occasions. So which of the various options on the market is the least reliable, the one most prone to breakdowns?

There’s an easy answer to that, which we will share with you. It’s powerful information, something essential for all homeowners to know so they can avoid this kind of heater at all costs. The staff at Climate Masters feels, however, that we can safely push you away from this system that needs too many heating repairs in St. Augustine, FL without frightening you too much.

So here it is. The heating system that needs to be repaired the most is…

A heating system that doesn’t receive regular maintenance

No, there isn’t an answer like “an electric furnace” or “a ground-source heat pump.” Although some systems have more mechanical parts than others, which puts them at a higher risk of breaking down, proper maintenance levels the field for all heaters. Perhaps the question is better phrased, “Which heating system requires the most stringent maintenance?”

However, all­ heaters should receive annual maintenance. Gas furnaces are perhaps the heaters that benefit the most from these inspections, because it helps avoid possible health hazards. But you shouldn’t develop the habit that you can go slack on maintenance for other types of system. Treat them all the same: schedule maintenance once a year.

Maintenance will prevent repair needs long before they begin, and the tune-up will make sure the heater isn’t running inefficiently and putting stress on the components that might lead to malfunctions. There is no better way to reduce calls for repair technicians than a yearly check-up and tune-up for your system.

On top of the reduction in repairs, regular maintenance will also keep your heater from draining excess power to run. You’ll save money on repairs and your heating bills.

Climate Masters has an excellent maintenance program that delivers you two visits per year: one for your heater and one for your air conditioner. Signing up for the program also provides a 10% discount on parts and labor for most necessary repairs. Talk to us today about our maintenance agreement so regardless of what heater you have, it will be the one that needs the least amount of heating repair in St. Augustine, FL.

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Why Is My Furnace Breaking Down All the Time?

Friday, December 20th, 2013

Furnaces are among the most durable of heating systems. With the proper care, most furnaces can last beyond their manufacturer’s expected lifespan. But what if your furnace begins breaking down frequently? Obviously, this isn’t something that should happen, and when it does start to occur, it requires professional assistance.

Climate Masters can bring you the expert, trained help you need for furnace repair in St. Augustine. All it takes is a phone call, any time of the day or night. We can offer you some help right now with a list of reasons your furnace might start breaking down repeatedly. Even if your furnace is currently working fine, you should look over this list to find ways to avoid troubles in the future.

4 reasons your furnace is breaking down constantly

  1. You’re overworking it: Don’t keep pushing your thermostat up the highest it can go; this will not make your furnace heat up your home faster, it will only make it stay on longer, and that will lead to excess wear and tear that will foster breakdowns. Find a comfortable lower temperature and stick with it.
  2. Repair needs are going without attention: A furnace can sometimes maintain its target temperature even with malfunctions occurring—but the longer a repair issue goes without getting fixed, the more likely the problem will burgeon into a complete shutdown. Make sure that you schedule professional repairs as soon as you detect anything unusual, such as sounds or a drop in airflow.
  3. The system is too old: No matter how well a furnace is cared for, it will eventually reach a point where it is too old to operate correctly, and it will start breaking down even with regular repairs. If your furnace is more than a few years past its expected lifespan, any breakdown should signal to you that the time has arrived for a new installment.
  4. It needs regular maintenance: This is the most common reason for breakdowns. Furnaces need to have annual maintenance check-ups and tune-ups from licensed professionals in order for them to function at their best and not start prematurely aging and developing malfunctions. Make sure you are enrolled in a preventive maintenance program that delivers a check-up once a year.

Keep your furnace in good shape

Although there is not much you can do about an ancient furnace aside from replacing it, the other reasons for a furnace breaking down are preventable. When you need furnace repair in St. Augustine, FL, or want to enroll in a quality maintenance program, contact Climate Masters. We’ve served St. John’s county since 1988.

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3 Ways to Tell That Your Heater Needs Professional Service

Friday, November 22nd, 2013

Florida isn’t known for its cruel winters, but the climate can still hurl surprises at us, especially during the evenings. Your heating system will experience some periods when it needs to work hard to keep you warm. If your heater starts to malfunction, you need to know what signs to look out for so you can get it timely repairs.

Here are three ways to tell that you need to schedule professional repairs for your heater. And we stress professional, because trying to handle repairs yourself can end up costing you much more. When you need heating repair in St. Augustine, FL, contact Climate Masters. We’re now moving into our third decade of business providing quality heating and cooling to St. Johns County.

Watch out for these 3 signs of impending repairs

  • An unexplained jump in your heating bills: If you’ve already lived with your heater through a previous winter season, you’ll know what to expect to see on your bills during the time of the year when it does the most work. Pay close attention to these bills, because if you notice an unexplained spike in price, it usually means that a malfunction is occurring somewhere in the heater that is making it work harder than it should.
  • Unexpected and unusual sounds: Even the quietest heaters, like geothermal systems, make some noise when they operate. These sounds should be consistent, so if anything unusual starts echoing from a furnace or heat pump cabinet, you should have it looked into. If you have a gas-powered furnace, some of these strange sounds may indicate a potential gas leak, so get professional technicians on the job as soon as you can. (You should also shut off the gas as a precaution.)
  • Heater coming on and off at the wrong times: If your heater is turning on when it shouldn’t, or shutting off before the house gets warm enough, there could be a number of culprits behind it. A common reason for this is a malfunction in the thermostat, which causes it to sense the temperature incorrectly and turn the heater on and off when you don’t want it to. You’ll need to have professionals investigate this to find out what is causing your heater to behave this way.

Whatever your problem with your heating system, Climate Master will have the solution for it. Contact us any time of the day or night for heating repair in St. Augustine, FL.

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I’ve Heard of Ductless Mini Split Heating: Is It Really That Good?

Friday, November 15th, 2013

For years, you probably accepted ductwork as a necessary part of home life. Even if you used a boiler to keep you warm during the occasional cold Florida nights, you still needed ducts for your air conditioner to send cooled air throughout your house. But you’ve heard about something called “ductless” mini split heating. That sounds like a good idea. However, things that sound too good to be true often are. Is that the case with ductless mini split heating?

No, not at all. Ductless mini splits offer tremendous advantages to homeowners, especially in places with less need for heating, like St. Augustine, FL. Ductless mini splits can provide you with sufficient heat and superb air conditioning, all without the need for ducts. If you are interested in getting one of these ductless systems installed, contact our specialists at Climate Masters. Let us handle your concerns from step one.

What’s so great about a ductless mini split?

First, ductless mini splits are heat pumps, which work as both air conditioners and heaters. You solve two comfort problems at once. Heat pumps draw heat out of your home during the summer, and put it into your home during the winter, simply reversing the direction of their operation. Because heat pumps do not burn fuel to generate heat, instead using only a small amount of electricity to move heat, they are among the most energy-efficient and cost-reducing ways to provide heat for your home.

Then there’s the difference in going ductless. Instead of using duct work to distribute heated or cooled air, a ductless mini split uses individual blower units mounted in different room (or “regions”), each of which has a refrigerant line running to the outdoor unit. You no longer have to worry about dust or breaks in the ducts, and you have zone control over the heating and cooling in different rooms.

So why doesn’t everybody install a ductless mini split?

Although ductless mini splits sound fantastic, they will not work ideally for every home. For houses that already have ductwork installed, it might be better to go with a standard heat pump that uses ducts. (You’ll still get all of the regular advantages of a heat pump.) For some houses, the heating function on the heat pump won’t supply a sufficient level of warmth, and a furnace will work better, or a hybrid system that hooks up a heat pump to a back-up furnace.

The best way to know if you should go with a ductless mini split for your heating in St. Augustine, FL is to consult with HVAC installation experts. They can survey your home and deduce its heating and cooling requirements, then provide you with a solid idea of how to get the maximum comfort. Trust Climate Masters to help you with the important decisions about heating your home.

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Common Problems That Can Occur with Your Pool Heater

Thursday, October 24th, 2013

When you live in Florida, you get to enjoy summer vacation type climates throughout much of the year. What better way to realize that vacation atmosphere than with a pool? However, since temperatures in Florida won’t always hover in the tropical 80’s and 90’s, you’ll need a way to enjoy your pool in cooler times as well. That’s where a great pool heater comes into play.

Because pool heaters must warm up a large amount of water, they require professional installation and maintenance to make sure they operate properly. But no matter the care that goes into pool heaters, they can still suffer from malfunctions.

Pool heaters encounter many of the same problems as indoor heaters (flickering pilot lights, gas flow issues). Here are some of the pool heater-specific problems our technicians at Climate Masters often address during service calls:

Improper ventilation in the heat exchanger: The heat exchanger is where the water in your pool has heat transferred to it. The water runs across copper finned tubes, which receive heat from flames in a burner tray below. But if the space between the coils becomes congested with lime deposits or debris such as leaves, the heater won’t be able to exhaust itself fast enough. The heat exchanger will need cleaning.

Pool chemistry issues: The balance of chemicals in your pool is crucial for the health of all the systems connected to it, especially the heater. Low pH levels and alkalinity can lead to pinhole leaks in the heat exchanger, and sometimes the heat exchanger must be replaced. However, a technician may find that putting in new gaskets will solve the problem.

Trouble with the water pump: In order to receive heat from the heat exchanger, the pool water needs a pump to push it through the heating elements. If the pump malfunctions, then you won’t receive any hot water in the pool no matter how well the rest of the heater is working.

Pool heaters handle a large task, so they require expert care and repair. When you need work pool heater service in St. Augustine, FL, contact Climate Masters. We have years of experience with pool heater installation, repair, and maintenance. Let us help you get the most out of your individual piece of vacation paradise.

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