Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Wondering whether it makes sense to invest in a furnace for your Florida home? Even in the furthest southern reaches of the state, where semi-tropics give way to true tropical climates, a furnace is often a wise addition to a home.

In Pensacola, temperatures drop significantly lower more often, and a furnace — while not a heavily used item most years — will certainly be something you’re glad to have.

Today, we’ll look at why you need heating even in Florida, why to invest in a furnace instead of using portable heaters, and what other options you might have for efficiently heating your home.

Why You Need Heating in Florida

The weather in Florida is comfortable or hot so much of the year that it can be easy to forget the occasional dip — especially looking ahead at the winter after a full year of warmth, at the time when you might consider adding a furnace or replacing an old one.

In Pensacola, it’s not unusual for winter temperatures to dip down into the upper 40s and hover around the low 50s. We don’t see the below-zero temperatures that can ravage northern neighbors, but it gets cold enough to be dangerous without heat for prolonged periods.

After all, it’s one thing to be moving around in the 50s or 60s, where it might feel chilly but tolerable to a Florida resident. It’s quite another to be sitting in a frigid room unmoving in your pajamas, perhaps huddled around an old space heater or hiding under a mountain of blankets.

It’s especially important to realize that allowing your home to plummet to low temperatures unchecked and then fly up high again the next day can be seriously taxing on the structure, accelerating wear and tear on your home and property, encouraging moisture to work in unexpected ways on your home, etc.

Why Use a Furnace Instead of Space Heaters?

If you only need your heat for a small part of the year, space heaters might be an attractive alternative to a central furnace or other permanent heating. You can heat the living room in the evening and your bedroom or bedrooms at night, and let the rest be cold — right?

First, you know that leaving your home to the elements can have unexpected drawbacks. But perhaps more important are the dangers associated with space heaters. A space heater, even an electric one, can be a serious safety hazard, potentially causing a fire if left unattended (or left on while you sleep).

Space heaters with combustion, i.e., gas-using space heaters, can be even more dangerous in the event of an accident, causing buildups of toxic gases without adequate ventilation, coating your home in soot, and lowering your indoor air quality.

A properly used furnace is far less likely to have any of these issues, will keep your home comfortable and safe without needing to be monitored, and doesn’t require you to drag around a bunch of space heaters. Furnaces are also more efficient, even taking into account heating less space.

Other Ways To Heat Your Florida Home

If you’re not interested in a full furnace, a heat pump is an excellent way to heat your Florida home when it gets chilly. Duct-based heat pumps and ductless mini-splits can serve double duty as air conditioners and high-efficiency heating in the Florida climate.

As long as temperatures stay above freezing, you can get efficiency as high as three or four times what a furnace gets for a similar amount of electricity. If you already use window units instead of a central AC, changing to ductless mini-splits to do both without needing ductwork is a great option.

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Call Peaden for Home Heating Help

Call the Peaden HVAC technicians at (855) 557-7878 or contact us online to learn more about heating your Florida home efficiently and safely. We’ll gladly help you consider your options!

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If you are in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, or Panama City and your furnace keeps tripping the breaker, this can be a problem. Not only is it annoying, but your breakers help to protect your home from fires and other damage. In addition, having a tripped breaker can be inconvenient. You have to constantly turn it back on every time it goes out. You are also going to get cold without your furnace running.

Causes of Tripped Breaker from Furnace

There are some major issues that could be at play here. It can be tough for you to figure out what the exact cause might be. However, Peaden heater repair experts have experience in handling this issue specifically.

There are 2 main reasons why your breaker keeps tripping from your furnace. This is due to an overloaded or short circuit. If the circuit is overloaded, there is too much current running through that circuit. It isn’t safe, so the breaker trips. Generally, the HVAC system uses its own circuit and has its own breaker. If the breaker keeps tripping when the furnace kicks on, there is probably an electrical issue with your furnace. The breaker could be too small for your furnace, as well. In addition, poor airflow could be causing an overloaded circuit. Generally, this is from not properly maintaining the HVAC system.

Short circuits could be causing the tripped breaker, too. This happens due to wiring getting wet or another electrical component touching things it shouldn’t. This can be quite dangerous and you should contact an expert who handles these issues to fix it for you.

Other Issues That Could Be Tripping Your Breaker

There could be some other issues that are causing your breaker to be tripped. It could be an issue with your breaker box. If the electrical panel is getting older or your system hasn’t been updated in a long time, it could be getting weak. It might not be meeting the needs of your home. The breaker could also be damaged or worn out.

The number one thing to remember is that you shouldn’t keep turning the breaker back on and thinking that everything will be fine. The breaker is doing what it is supposed to do and protecting your home. It is turning off because there is a problem going on. It is just a matter of figuring out what the issue might be and having it repaired. When it comes to heater repair, you should always contact Peaden heater repair experts. With years of experience and working on many homes in the area, you can contact us to handle all your heater repair needs.

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Do you live in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, or Panama City? Are you having problems with your heater? If so, Peaden heater repair experts can help. It is very important to keep your heating system in full working order. If there are any issues with it, that could pose a danger to the members of the home and the house itself. In addition, if the heating system isn’t working properly, you may experience major discomfort during the colder months. Getting the best tips on which heater repair services you might need can help.

Changing Your Heating System Air Filter

A heating system needs to have a fully functioning air filter. This filter is going to catch germs and other particles. After some time, the filter isn’t going to work quite as well as it used to. It is generally advisable for you to change your air filter two times each year. However, that could vary depending on the home’s size and your lifestyle too. More frequent air filters should occur if:

• You have pets.
• You keep your doors and windows open.
• You have done regular or recent construction in your home.

Have a clean air filter is going to make your heating system work much better. If you are concerned about the air filter, but aren’t sure what to do, call Peaden and we can send out one of our heater repair experts.

Scheduling Heating System Maintenance

If you want to keep excellent air quality in your home, you should schedule regular heating system maintenance. As a homeowner, it can be tough for you to keep up with the cleaning of your heating system. This takes time and many. However, many homeowners are busy with work and other responsibilities. It can also be difficult to full clean the heating system when you don’t know your way around it.

Over time your heating system is going to have built up dust, dander, pollutants, and other materials. The blades, fins, and motor may have all of this stuff on it. When you turn on your heating system, these materials will go through the air inside of your home. If you call a Peaden heater repair expert, we can give your heating system the deep clean it needs. Cleaner air means you and your family can breathe easier as well.

Spending Less Money

Do you want your home to be as comfortable as possible? While heating maintenance isn’t required, it is still encouraged by heating repair experts. This is because there are numerous benefits to your home when receiving heating maintenance.

Even if you have heating maintenance done two times a year, you can prevent major heating system problems. Without this maintenance, you may experience permanent damages to your heating system and the entire thing may need to be replaced. You can save yourself money by getting the heating maintenance done twice each year.

If you want to spend less money in the long run, schedule your home heating maintenance services today.

Now you know why heating repair services and heating system maintenance are so important. Make the call to Peaden today and have one of our heater repair experts come assess, repair, or maintain your home’s heating system.

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When the weather turns cold, you want the indoor temperatures to be comfortable and safe. The best way to achieve this without any hiccups is to prevent a heater repair. While there are a few different ways you can do this, it’s important that you get the experts involved for a majority of the services. Of course, there are a few things you can do at home on your own. To help you get started, here are a few steps you can take to prevent heater repair.

Get a Tune-Up

Getting an annual tune-up is one of the best ways to prevent heater repair and keep your unit running in prime condition. Plus, it increases the lifespan of your heater because you’ll have fewer breakdowns and each element of the complex system will be working at optimal levels. Tune-ups don’t take a lot of time and they are an affordable way to keep more expensive heater repairs away.

Practice At-Home Maintenance

Of course, you should also practice at-home maintenance such as changing and cleaning filters, keeping the proper amount of insulation in the home for more efficiency, and practice smart temperature settings. Speak with a heater repair specialist about the best methods for at-home maintenance and make sure you get everyone involved so nothing is overlooked or forgotten.

Learn the Signs of Heater Repair

Knowing the signs of heater repair is the first step to being able to identify when it’s time to call in the pros. Make sure when you notice odd noises or smell, low to no air flow, cold air coming out of vents versus the set temperature, and other signs that you bring in the experts. Speak with a technician about the signs you need a heater repair if you aren’t sure, and ask about what you can expect from your particular model of unit. Because heaters are different based on your home and preferences, you’ll need to learn the signs based on the model you have installed.

Hire a Reputable Company for All Heater Services

To prevent future heater repairs, make sure you have a reputable company for all of your heating and cooling needs. Amateurs often gloss over the issue and repair only part of the problem, leaving you with a heater repair that is going to demand attention in the near future. Reputable companies get the problem fixed completely and correctly the first time.

Call for Minor Heater Repairs

One way to prevent heater repairs from continually occurring is to call for minor fixes. Even if it seems to be a small annoyance to you, in the future the heater repair could end up being a major fix and a possible emergency. Get a technician involved when you notice something isn’t right and have them come out to check your home for efficiency. Trust that the more you pay attention to your heater and take care of it, the longer it will last and the more money you’ll save.

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Saving money is on everyones’ mind these days, and it can be hard to find new ways to lower bills. However, when you want to prevent a heating repair, you’ll find that you’ll also be lowering your energy costs. By making a few simple changes to your routine, you can save hundreds of dollars, if not more, over the course of a year on your energy and heating repair bills. Here are a few tips to help you get moving in the right direction.

Change Filters Routinely

It can be easy to get off track as the cold weather moves in, but make sure you are cleaning and changing your filters just as much as you did in the summer to ensure that you save money and don’t cause unnecessary repairs. Not changing filters and keeping with simple maintenance like this is one of the primary reasons that a heater will quit working in prime condition, so keep it at the top of the list!

Seal All Air Leaks

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on new windows and doors to close up air leaks. You can invest in much more affordable options to help prevent heating repair such as installing new weather strips and finding sealants that will get the job done thoroughly. Also be sure that you’re walking the outside of your home to close up any holes and cracks in the foundation and siding. Make sure that your attic is properly insulated as well so that you aren’t losing any air there.

Get a New Thermostat

A new thermostat will give you more control of the temperature whether you are standing in the room, or you forgot to make adjustments before your vacation. You will be able to change setting from remote settings using your smartphone and you can get many more features depending on your goals. Having this kind of control will allow you to give your heating system a break when you aren’t home.

Have Fans Rotate Clockwise

Turn your ceiling fans on a clockwise rotation so that the warm air pushes down and your heater gets a break. This will keep it from working so hard and save you on future heating repairs. Plus, you’ll save money on your bill. Don’t forget that once you seal up your windows, you should open them and use the natural sunlight to warm your space. It’s free and your heater will appreciate the help!

Close Rooms You Don’t Use

If you have large storage areas or rooms that aren’t in use, close the vents and the doors so that you aren’t forcing your unit to heat the entire home. You’ll discover that you can save a pretty significant amount of money by doing this, and your heater will be able to get the space that you are using heated without having to work harder than it needs to. Take time to practice these tips and you’ll find your heater lasts longer and stays stronger over the years, while also saving you money!

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No one likes to have a heater repair lingering on their list of things to do, but it’s inevitable when you own a home that your heating and cooling system will demand attention from time to time. When that happens, it’s imperative that you don’t put off the call if you want to get your space comfortable and functioning as it should. Here are a few money-saving tips to follow next time you need a heater repair.

Call for Yearly Inspections

Each year you should have a yearly inspection by a professional to clean coils and look at each area to make sure that there isn’t anything that could be an issue in the future. While you can still do your visual inspections and take care of changing filters on time, you’ll want to have someone with a skilled eye to really get in there. They have the industry knowledge to know what brand of heaters are more likely to demand certain repairs, and they’ll know what elements to pay close attention to.

Don’t Wait to Get a Heater Repair

If you hear strange noises coming from your heater or you start to see condensation build up where it has never been before, don’t ignore just because your heater is still working. You should never put off heater repairs if you want to save money because they are going to be more affordable the faster you catch them. Pay attention to your heater and don’t let it be an option to put it off another month.

Use a Quality Company

The company you use for heater repair is going to be essential to the longevity of your system, as well as how it runs. If you want your heater to continue to perform in prime condition, then find a company that is certified, affordable, and easy to work with. You don’t want to let just any stranger you met in the filter aisle at the hardware store to fix your heater because you never know how much they really know. Plus, if you require further heater repairs, you may not be able to find them even if it’s their mistakes that you need corrected. The best companies will be licensed and available for you.

Invest in a New Heater Earlier Rather Than Later

You can save some major dollars on heater repair when you invest in a new unit as the fixes become more frequent. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repairs will be and you could be putting that money towards the newer and more energy efficient unit that will end up saving you money.

Make Sure Everyone Is on the Same Page

When you’re trying to save money on your next heater repair, make sure that everyone who uses the unit is on the same page. You want to know that filters are being changed as they should and that everyone is following the correct temperature setting rules so that your unit isn’t working harder than it should.

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No matter what kind of system you use to warm your space, you can expect (as with any appliance or complex unit) that you’ll need a heater repair at some point. As the heater ages, it will demand some attention. There are signs that you can look for that will alert you that heater repair is necessary, such as making odd sounds, blowing cool air, an increase on your energy bill, and more. Once you take notice of these signs and call in the pros, here are a few things that you can expect when you go with a reliable heater repair company.

A Complete Inspection of the Heater

The different heating systems will require the technician to have the training to inspect furnaces that are gas and oil, split systems, heat pumps, forced air, and beyond. When you call for the heater repair, you’ll want to let them know what type of unit you have and what the issue is that you’ve noticed. They’ll do a full inspection from the heat exchanger to the unit’s safety controls.

A Reliable Diagnosis

Once the heater has been completely inspected, you’ll get a reliable diagnosis as to what the problem is and how the heater repair is going to take place. Knowing the steps that are going to be taken will give you the information to make a confident decision. Here, you’ll also learn more about the pricing and you can ask questions about the age of your unit and how you can expect your heater to perform as it ages. While each system will be unique because different households have different comfort level requirements, the experts will have a good idea of how your unit should be performing after the inspection and diagnosis.

A Thorough Heater Repair

After the diagnosis, it’s time to get a thorough heater repair so that you can get back to relaxing at home in a comfortable temperature of your choosing. You can either schedule this at your convenience, or in some cases it will be performed the same day as the diagnosis. If you need an emergency heater repair, the sense of urgency will be elevated and you’ll want to take care of the situation immediately. Heaters can be dangerous when they aren’t properly maintained because carbon monoxide can escape when there are cracks in the heater exchange and fires can occur when parts aren’t functioning they way they are meant to. Take care in getting heater repairs performed swiftly and with an experienced company.

A Reminder for Yearly Service

Once your heater repair is complete, you can expect to get a reminder for your yearly service to keep it working in the best condition possible. You should go ahead and mark this on your calendar so that you don’t skip a beat when it’s time to have your heater looked at. The more attention you pay to your heater, the quicker you’ll notice when it’s acting strange, and the faster you can get someone out there to repair it. That’s more money (and frustration) you’ll save in the long run.

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No one wants to hear that they are in need of a heater repair. For starters, it can be hard to predict the cost because you don’t know if you have a minor issue or need a major repair. However, there are affordable options that will get you back to your normal routine quickly, and when it comes to heater repair, it’s better to get the situation resolved by an expert before creating a larger (and more expensive) problem. Here are a few things you should know about a heater repair cost and how to prevent them in the future.

Heater Repair Cost

Heater repair costs, just like with any home improvement, will vary depending on your needs and can range anywhere from sixty dollars to a few thousand. The average that many people pay will be on the lower scale from sixty to a few hundred dollars. If the heater repairs rise in cost, then talk to an expert about the age of your unit and when it’s time to get a new one. You can actually save money when you invest in the upfront price of a new unit versus getting an old one continually repaired.

Tips for Preventing Heater Repair

If you want to save money on heater repair, then there are a few proactive measures you can take. These tips will help you keep heater costs low and give your furnace longevity.

#1: Routine Maintenance

You’ll need to keep up routine maintenance such as changing filters and cleaning the debris from the outside unit. Listen to your heater and pay attention to the flow of air to ensure that it’s functioning in prime condition. When you give your heater monthly visual inspections, you’ll find that you can discover and resolve small issues in time to prevent more severe repairs.

#2: Yearly Service

Have your heater serviced yearly so that the places that you can’t get to are cleaned and restored for the cold weather ahead. The experts are more likely to catch and prevent a repair when servicing your unit, and this will keep you from having to call them when it becomes more of an emergency situation or during a bad weather.

#3: Know the Signs

Talk to a heater repair professional about the signs that can alert you that you need to call someone in. If you’ve noticed your thermostat not reading accurately, the furnace is making loud noises or leaking near the unit, then you’ll want to get the experts involved.

Find a Heater Repair Company Near You

Whether you need a heater repair today, or you want to be prepared for when you’ll require one in the future, finding a local and reliable company near you is the next step to take. Quality heater repairs will keep your unit working longer and in prime condition. Amateurs and inexperienced people can actually do more damage to your heater than good, so take care in choosing experts that meet the professional criteria to fix your furnace.

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