Climate Masters Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

November Is Here – Have You Scheduled Your Heater for Annual Maintenance Yet?

Monday, November 9th, 2015

While our outdoor temperatures belie the season somewhat right now, make no mistake: cooler air is on its way. One of the best ways to make sure you have the heat you need is to schedule annual heating maintenance for your HVAC system in St. Johns, FL. Why maintenance? Let’s take a look.

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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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How Does Hybrid Heating Work?

Thursday, December 11th, 2014

One of the reasons people love heat pumps is because they offer both heating and cooling. But there can be some concern about the heating heat pumps can provide when the air temperature dips below 32 degrees. If you have concerns about using just a heat pump to heat your home, you may want to consider the installation of a hybrid heating system. Why? A hybrid heating system is comprised of a heat pump as your main source of heating, with a back-up gas furnace. This means that no matter what the temperature may be outside, you will always be warm and comfortable inside. First, let’s take a look at how a hybrid heating system works.

There are two main components of a hybrid heating system: the heat pump and the gas furnace. Heat pumps provide heat by absorbing the available heat in the outside air, concentrating it, then distributing it to your living spaces. As the air becomes colder, less heat is available in the air for the heat pump to absorb; this is why, when it’s 32 degrees or colder, your heat pump may not heat your home as well as you need it to. This is where the back-up furnace comes in. With a hybrid system, your heat pump is equipped with a sensor that is programmed with a set-point temperature that automatically switches your heating system from the heat pump to the furnace. Typically, this temperature is set a few degrees above the freezing point. A set-point temperature is also set to switch back to the heat pump. The switch is automatic and works in conjunction with your home’s dual-fuel thermostat.

Benefits of a Hybrid Heating System

  • Energy efficiency – with a hybrid heating system, you will still gain the energy-saving benefits of using a heat pump, which can improve your home’s overall efficiency levels.
  • Comfortable heating – with a hybrid heating system, you’ll never have to worry about a lack of heat as the gas furnace back-up ensures that heat is always available.
  • Heating and cooling – with a hybrid system, you can still enjoy the heating and cooling offered by a heat pump.

If you’ve been concerned about your heat pump’s ability to provide enough heat during winter, a hybrid heating system in St. Augustine may be just what you’ve been looking for.

Contact Climate Masters today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.

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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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When to Call for Commercial HVAC Repair

Monday, October 13th, 2014

If your business environment is uncomfortable, it can have an impact on your customers, your employees and, ultimately, your business. This is why it’s important to know the signs of developing problems and to have a reliable company you can call to repair those problems. Commercial HVAC repair in St. Augustine should always be handled by certified and trained commercial technicians to ensure that you are getting the expert commercial HVAC service you need for your business, so call the people you can trust: Climate Masters.

Signs It’s Time to Call for Repair

Here are some signs that it may be time to call for commercial HVAC service:

  • Warm air blowing – warm air blowing in your system can be indicative of a few problems, most commonly refrigerant issues.
  • Visible leaking – leaks can indicate that something is wrong with some part of your condensate array, which consists of your condensate tray and condensate drain pipe.
  • No air at all – a number of problems can cause a total loss of air, including broken fans and compressor problems. As such, it’s important to hire a professional to inspect your system.
  • High energy bills – are your energy bills rising even though you haven’t changed the way you operate your HVAC system? High energy bills indicate that your system is working harder to achieve the set temperature, and as it does so, it is using more energy. Finding the problem can be challenging, so it’s best to call a specialist.
  • Strange sounds – as the business owner, you know the sounds your HVAC system makes while it operates. If you are hearing something out of the ordinary, don’t ignore it.
  • Strange odors – strange odors can indicate faulty ductwork, mold development or even an electrical problem. As with strange sounds, it is not advisable to ignore strange odors.

Your commercial HVAC system is complex. It takes knowledge, expertise and prior commercial experience to successfully repair a commercial HVAC system in St. Augustine, so make sure you hire a company with actual commercial experience.

Climate Masters has been helping commercial customers since 1988, and we bring this experience to every job we do. Call us today!

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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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