Heating and Heat Pumps in Florida: What You Need to Know

Our temperatures are back on the rise, thank goodness after we recently suffered a freezing blow in the Tampa Bay area. If you were lucky enough to have a fireplace for showing or for glowing with heat, you probably took full advantage of this amenity, turned your thermostat to “Heat” or fired-up other heat sources, as well, to achieve the best warmth and comfort for your family.

We certainly experience chilly temps during winters in the Sunshine State, but freeze warnings are unusual in Florida, and they happen. We just experienced one. Hopefully, you have a high-efficiency heat system in place to keep your home warm and thwart soaring energy costs.

There are a number of heat source options for Florida homeowners to consider, especially if your existing system is older, faulty, or inefficient. Here we share what you need to know about heating and heat pumps in the Tampa Bay area, so you can make informed decisions for the safety, warmth, and comfort of your family,

Heat Pumps

The most energy-efficient heating option in Florida is the heat pump. Heat pumps can cool your home in the summer and either use hot water from a boiler system or ground warmth (geothermal energy) to heat your home during chillier winter months.

Heat pumps transfer heat generated from the ground or boiler, rather than using electricity or natural gas. A resistance heater has higher operating costs because of the fuel or electricity required as a power source.

Heat pumps are an excellent choice for those looking to save money on their energy bills. They’re the most efficient form of heating, but it’s important that you know what type of heat pump will work best in your situation before making any investments. Factors to consider include the current heat source setup, the size of the home, and your budget. Heat pump installations can be costly but will pay for themselves over a few years, based on savings you’ll notice on your energy bills.

Air Conditioner Heat Strips

The most common form of heating in Florida is an air conditioner heat strip. A heating element inside of the air conditioning unit provides warmth for cooler nights and short periods of time. Because the air conditioning unit uses electricity or natural gas to operate and power the heat strip, it does tend to drive-up energy costs.

A heat strip element may be enough to heat your home under generally cool conditions, when the temperature drops below freezing as it did recently, it typically will not be capable of warming your home sufficiently.

Electric or Natural Gas Furnaces

For snowbirds or residents in the Tampa Bay area who do not need a heat source very often, an electric or natural gas furnace may be an investment to consider. It can be costly to buy an electric or natural gas furnace, but when you compare them with heat strips that do not work well during extremely cold temperatures due to their design, a furnace may be the best option to keep your home warm, regardless of how low the temperatures drop.

Propane and Electric Space Heaters

Since we do not have regular freeze warnings or extremely cold temperatures in the Tampa Bay area, homeowners may choose to use electric or propane space heaters to warm a room or an area of space. Today’s models are technologically advanced with programmable thermostats and auto shut-off features, they are convenient, portable, and do not cost much to operate. They only heat an area of space, though, not your whole home.

There are safety concerns to consider, too. In as much as the technology has evolved to make electric and propane space heaters safe, the risks of fire and burns still exist. Always keep electric space heaters away from anything flammable, like throw rugs and curtains. Also, exercise caution when around these heat sources to avoid burns.

When using indoor propane space heaters, always read the manufacturer’s instructions, place them on a non-combustible surface away from flammable materials. Never leave any operating space heater unattended, and it is always wise to install a carbon monoxide detector in areas where a propane space heater is being used.

Heat System Installation

Floridians do not need to use their heat systems very often, but when the temps dip to levels at which we dig out our sweaters and closed-toed shoes, it is always nice to have a functioning heat system to warm our home.  If a new heat pump or system is in order, it is a costly investment that requires heat system installers with knowledge and experience to recommend the right system the first time.

Finding the appropriate heat pump or other heat systems for your residential or commercial needs and budget is possible with the right contractor.  They should be able to recommend quality products and experienced installers for a cozy, warm finish!

Heat System Maintenance & Repairs

Like air conditioning, heating components require maintenance to keep them clean and operate properly when you need them.  If a heating system fails, making repairs a necessity, find a heater repair technician who is trustworthy, honest, and experienced with your type of heating unit to avoid unnecessary delays and added expenses.

There’s little worse than being cold and not having an operable heat source. Maintain your current system with regular maintenance, and if/when the need arises for repairs, do your due diligence and get estimates from reputable HVAC technicians for a successful service call.

February 20th is National Comfy Day, and we want you and your family to stay comfy and warm if and when the temps drop again. After all, our motto is Proficient Air…Because We CARE!

If you need a reliable, dependable experienced air conditioning and heating company in the Tampa Bay area, Proficient Air is poised and ready to provide you with quality, professional HVAC services, just as we have for more than a decade.

Proficient Air in Palm Harbor offers a variety of high-quality air conditioning and heating systems, as well as routine maintenance contracts that are specifically tailored to meet your needs and budget, and we also offer financing options. Contact Proficient Air when it’s time for air conditioning and heating maintenance, air conditioner and heater repairs, new air conditioning, and heat system installation, or air quality products in the Tampa Bay area. 727.386.2732