It 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.
While other parts of the country are dealing with very severe winter temperatures, we know that in our area, summer weather is just around the corner. There’s no denying that our air conditioners get quite the workout throughout not only summer, but pretty much 11 months out of the year if we’re being honest!
You’ve heard us talk about maintenance, but do you know why it’s so important? First off, it will help your cooling system work more efficiently. This means you won’t have to pay any more than you should in order to use your AC. Additionally, it reduces wear and tear and repair needs, meaning your air conditioner will last longer, too. A well cared for air conditioner can last about 10-15 years, but without tune-ups you can expect yours to last maybe half of that.
Most of the HVAC blogs you might read will typically recommend that you schedule air conditioning maintenance in the spring, and heating maintenance in the fall—before you need either system the most. But here in St Augustine, we pretty much need our air conditioners year-round. So what does that mean for scheduling? Well, it’s never too early for an AC tune-up!
No matter who you are, there’s no doubt that COVID-19 is something that you’ve been very aware of in the past year. Many homeowners throughout the country are looking for ways to mitigate their risks of virus transmission and the like in their own homes, and St. Augustine residents are no exception.
Homeowners often don’t realize how much their ductwork plays a role in not only their comfort but also the cleanliness of their indoor air. So when that ductwork is dirty or damaged, it can impact your home in significant ways. Damaged ductwork allows air leaks into unoccupied spaces like your attic or crawlspace. Dirty ducts invite common allergens as well as mold spores and bacteria into your indoor air.
Look, we get it. You live in St Augustine, FL. You don’t need your heater much. Shoot, some years it seems like you maybe only turned in on for one cool week during the winter.
Winter is right around the corner! True, that doesn’t mean much for us here in the sunshine state. “Winter?” you may scoff, “that’s something other states get, not us!”
Are you using a gas-powered furnace to warm your home this winter? This is a great choice for homeowners in our area. Our winters may be brief, but we can certainly have some chilly days and nights. And you need a powerful and safe heater to get you through the cooler temperatures. That said, there is a potential threat when it comes to gas furnaces that is important for homeowners to be aware of. A cracked heat exchanger.
Dirty ducts are a conundrum. On one hand, some homeowners are convinced that their dirty ducts still work after decades of neglect. If they put a hand on their air vent, they’ll still feel the heated air coming from their furnace. While we won’t argue with that sentiment, since dirty ducts can technically still work, we want to approach this from a different angle.
