Climate Masters Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Heating’

Don’t Ignore These Heat Pump Issues!

Monday, January 1st, 2024

When it comes to your heat pump, all problems should be treated as important ones. There is no heat pump problem that is so small that it is worth ignoring. This is because even small problems can build up over time and turn into big ones that lead to heat pump breakdowns. 

Examples of serious heat pump problems include refrigerant leaks, frozen coils, and heat pump short cycling in St. Augustine. We are highlighting common heat pump problems below, along with the signs of each one. You can keep reading to learn more about common heat pump issues and how to identify them early to prevent your heat pump from breaking down completely.

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The Danger of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Monday, November 22nd, 2021

burners-in-a-furnaceAre you utilizing a gas-powered heater this fall and winter to keep your home warm? This isn’t surprising, since after all this the most popular heating system found in modern homes. This is especially true in climates like ours that don’t have bitterly cold winters and so don’t need something like radiant heating or boiler heating.

Furnaces are cost-efficient, and a fantastic choice for many homeowners. However, while they’re not inherently harmful, when you use natural gas in your home for any appliance, there is always a small risk of toxic gas leaks and combustion issues. The primary concern in avoiding issues like this is taking care of your furnace’s heat exchanger.

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“Is Ductless Heating Right for My Home?”

Monday, March 15th, 2021

modern-living-room-with-ductless-air-handler-on-wallIt may seem odd for us to be talking about heating at all, during this time of the year. After all, it’s not like we need our heaters once spring hits. But if your heater was struggling this past winter, then it’s not a bad idea to look into your replacement options sooner rather than later. This is especially true if you’re considering a heat pump system—that is, a system that operates not only as a heater, but as an air conditioner as well!

Ductless systems have become increasingly popular for climates like ours—where summers are stifling hot and winters are mild (not to mention short). But, is a ductless system right for your specific home? These systems operate on heat pump technology, and as the name implies do not rely on a network of ducts. Rather, they consist of one outdoor condenser unit connected via refrigerant, power, and condensate lines to up to 4 indoor air handlers that can be mounted on the walls inside your home.

These systems have what’s called a reversing valve, which is the component that allows you to switch between heating and cooling mode.

But is this right for your home? Read on to find out!

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Boost Heating Efficiency This Winter!

Monday, January 6th, 2020

money-symbol-on-seesaw-with-house-animationWinter is officially here! Sure, that doesn’t mean much for those of us in the state of Florida, but given the stark contrast in temperatures between summer and winter, functioning heaters are a necessity.

As necessary as they might be, however, nobody wants to pay an arm and a leg to use theirs. Particularly considering how much we all spend to keep our homes cool in the summertime. Excess spending can be a real drag!

The good news is, you don’t have to forgo heating system use in order to save money. There are some simple tips you can follow that will boost heating efficiency in your home and therefore cut costs.

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The 2 Major Things You can do to Save Money on Heating This Winter

Monday, January 23rd, 2017

Most people don’t spend a whole lot of time sitting around and thinking about their heating systems, even during the winter. You’re probably the same way. You’ve got bills, and taxes, and a million other things that are much higher on your priority list than optimizing your heating situation. Still, you’d be surprised at how much money you can save every month by just taking a couple of simple steps. Let’s take a look at 2 major things that you can do to save money on your heating bills during the winter.

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Heat Pump or Furnace: Which Is Best for Heating?

Thursday, January 8th, 2015

If you’re looking for a new central heating system in Florida, there are generally two options for you to choose from: heat pumps and furnaces. A heat pump is a heating and air conditioning system that uses refrigerant to operate. Furnaces are the most common heating systems found in homes in the U.S. When you’re choosing a new system for heating in St. Augustine, FL, it’s best to speak with a professional first. But here at Climate Masters, we’ve put together this guide as a starting point to choosing the best solution for you.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are praised for their efficiency in both heating and cooling applications. This is because less energy is required to move heat around than to generate it, and a heat pump uses refrigerant to pump heat from place to place. The technology used for this process is the same used in air conditioners, with refrigerant removing heat from the home and dispersing it outdoors. But with a heat pump, the flow of refrigerant can reverse, removing heat from the outside air and bringing it indoors.

Many people recommend heat pumps for home heating in Florida. This is because it seems unnecessary in some cases to have a separate heating and air conditioning system when you can combine these units into one. Furthermore, heat pumps are known to save homeowners money as the years go on.

Furnaces

But a furnace is still a great choice for heating installation as well. This is especially true if you don’t actually need a new air conditioner just yet and if you’ve already owned a furnace in the past. First of all, furnaces are less expensive that heat pumps in most cases. This is an important consideration for homeowners who are worried about the cost of an unexpected heating breakdown. And today’s furnaces are more efficient than ever before. The government requires that furnaces sold in the United States meet certain requirements, including having an AFUE of 80% or greater. The AFUE of your new furnace, short for annual fuel utilization efficiency, may even be well over 90%, whereas furnaces built decades ago had an AFUE closer to 50%, using a lot of energy to heat even a small space.

Still not sure which type of unit is best for your home? Call the heating experts at Climate Masters to find out more information about possibilities for your heating in St. Augustine, FL.

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Don’t Wait for a Breakdown before Scheduling Heating Repair

Thursday, December 4th, 2014

A sudden heating breakdown can be a major annoyance during a particularly cool day. It’s especially a nuisance for those among us who have ill family members or other circumstances that require the temperature to remain consistent throughout the day and night. Whatever your situation, it’s important to pay attention to the signs that your heating system may be in need of repair so that you won’t be put out by a sudden system failure.

You may think that a seemingly minor problem can wait for repairs. Your heat pump or furnace may simply not produce as much heat as you’d like, or a small noise can be a bit of an inconvenience. However, it’s important to note that even the smallest of issues can signal major trouble for your heater. Problems can develop until the parts begin to wear down and, eventually, fail. Let’s look at a couple of examples.

Let’s say the lack of heat from your heat pump is due to a refrigerant leak. If you let the leak go on for too long, it can continue to drip out of the refrigerant line. Your compressor requires a certain amount of refrigerant to move through it at each cycle, so the leak may cause the compressor to become overworked and fail. Alternatively, imagine that the lack of heat from your furnace stems from a faulty fan. The fan will continue to attempt to run at high speeds, wearing down the motor and consuming a lot of energy in the process.

Not experiencing any heating problems? You should still consider calling a technician for annual maintenance sometime soon. Heating maintenance is vital in preserving your heating system for a long period of time and preventing repairs. A tune up can also keep your heater running more efficiently, saving you money every month. Besides, you may have a minor repair need which you had not noticed, and it’s better to know now than to wait for a breakdown later on.

Contact Climate Masters for fast and reliable repairs for your heating in St. Augustine. We offer 24-hour emergency service so you can get your heater back to normal as soon as possible.

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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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Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Monday, June 10th, 2013

Be sure to bookmark the Climate Masters blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call Climate Masters for all your Air Conditioning, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Commercial HVAC, and New Construction needs.

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