Does Switching to a Heat Pump Make Sense in Florida?

Is your current heating and cooling system getting up in years? If you live in Florida, a heat pump might be the best replacement option. Below, we’ll explain what to consider before switching from a traditional central AC and furnace to a heat pump, including the pros and cons.

HEAT PUMP ADVANTAGES

Heat pumps have some significant advantages when stacked against standard air conditioners and furnaces.

You can reduce your energy usage.

Heat pumps are energy-efficient HVAC systems, so they can significantly lower your utility bills. Air-source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump used in the U.S., and these systems can decrease the electricity you use for heating by about 50 percent compared to equipment like electric furnaces and baseboard heaters.

Heat pumps are better at dehumidifying indoor air.

As the saying goes, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Fortunately, your heat pump can give you some welcome relief from our muggy, Florida air with dehumidification abilities that surpass a traditional air conditioner’s. What’s more, the less humid air is, the faster it cools off, meaning you won’t have to run your system as often and can save money on energy costs.

They typically last longer than air conditioners.

Whereas traditional air conditioners tend to last 10 to 15 years, heat pumps last at least 16 years and can continue operating longer if well-maintained.

There’s no danger of gas or carbon monoxide leaks.

A gas, propane, or oil furnace needs to “burn” fuel to produce heat. That process (called “combustion”) creates harmful byproducts. Normally, that pollution is vented outdoors, but if your heat exchanger cracks, those byproducts could start mixing with your breathing air.

Air-source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps rely on electricity and don’t use gas, propane, or oil to generate heat. Therefore, you never have to worry about natural gas leaking out of a fitting or a carbon monoxide scare.

HEAT PUMP DISADVANTAGES

While there are several pros to replacing your furnace and air conditioner with a heat pump, there are some cons as well.

You have to replace your furnace and AC at the same time.

The price tag can be hefty when buying a heat pump because the system includes your heating and your air conditioning. Another downside is that if you have an old furnace and a relatively new AC (or vice versa), you’ll still need to replace the whole system to accommodate a new heat pump.

At Bounds Heating & Air, our Gainesville HVAC professionals can help you determine if a heat pump is the best solution for your home. Just give us a call at (352) 472-2761 or contact us online for some friendly assistance.

7 Common HVAC Terms That Every Homeowner Should Know

Does it feel like you’re reading a different language whenever you try to read anything about your home’s heating and cooling system? We understand. At one point, all of those terms were new to us too. For this reason, we want to provide you with a glossary, of sorts, that explains some essential terms that every homeowner should know about their heating and cooling system.

Ready to learn how to speak “HVAC?” Let’s get started.

1. HVAC

Let’s start with the term HVAC. HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. People often will refer to an entire heating and cooling system (the heater, air conditioner, and ductwork) as an HVAC system for short.

2. AFUE

AFUE (Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is a term for the measurement of a gas or oil furnace’s efficiency. AFUE is a number. That number is the percentage of the amount of fuel energy used to heat your home.

For instance, if a furnace’s AFUE is 80, then 80% of the fuel it uses will be used for heating your home, while 20% of the fuel will go to waste (80% + 20% = 100%). An energy-efficient furnace will have a really high AFUE, meaning that almost 100% of the fuel it uses will be used to heat your home, and only a small percentage of the fuel will go to waste.

3. SEER

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the rating that describes how efficient an air conditioner or heat pump is. The SEER is calculated by dividing the unit’s total cooling power by the total energy used to power it over one year. This equation takes into account temperature differences throughout the year. Taking those differences into account is important because your AC works much harder during July than January.

4. HSPF

HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is similar to SEER and AFUE, only it applies to heat pumps when they’re heating a home. To calculate a heat pump’s HSPF, you divide the unit’s total heating power by the total energy used to power it over one year. In this way, HSPF takes seasonal temperature differences into account.

5. Condenser

Your air conditioning system has two major components: the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit is called the condenser, that metal box that sits outside with a fan inside of it. Whether you own a heat pump, a ductless mini-split, or a traditional AC and furnace, the air conditioner has a condenser located outdoors, typically in the yard, on the roof, or on a balcony.

The condenser contains a coil with refrigerant that has just absorbed heat from your indoor air. The condenser’s main role is to release all that heat outdoors. For this reason, the condenser needs adequate room for ventilation on all sides and especially on top, where its fan is blowing out the most warm air.

6. Evaporator Coil

Air conditioners and heat pumps have two coils: one is in the condenser, mentioned above, and the other is the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil is located indoors.

Just like the condenser coil, the evaporator coil contains refrigerant. Hot indoor air from your home blows over this coil, and the refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air. The “warmed up” refrigerant moves along a line from the evaporator coil out to the outdoor condenser coil, where it can release that heat outside.

7. Heat Exchanger

Heat exchangers are a crucial component in gas or oil furnaces. Here’s why:

While burning fuel, a furnace creates toxic flue gases and combustion products, such as carbon monoxide. These things are hazardous to breathe, so you don’t want them mixing with your “breathing air.”
The heat exchanger is a thin, metal shield that acts as a barrier between your breathing air and the hot air that gets exposed to flue gases and toxic byproducts that result from your furnace burning fuel.
Because the heat exchanger is made of metal, it transfers the heat from the “unhealthy” air to your indoor air, while keeping out all the harmful things you shouldn’t breathe.
Consequently, your indoor air gets heated safely, and the flue gases and pollutants on the other side of the heat exchanger get vented outside your home where they can dissipate.

Over time, condensation can cause the heat exchanger to rust. This can lead to cracks as the metal expands and contracts from warming up and cooling down. A cracked heat exchanger needs to be taken seriously, as any breaks in the barrier can allow harmful gases and particles to mix with your indoor air.

At Bounds Heating & Air, we’re committed to providing you with top-quality HVAC repairs, maintenance, and installations. Give us a call at (352) 472-2761 or contact us online today!

Troubleshooting Your Ductless Heat Pump

Even if you perform routine maintenance on your ductless heat pump, there may come a time when it runs into trouble. The heat coming from the system may not be as strong as it was before, for example, or you may start hearing noises while it’s operating. In any case, it’s essential for you to be aware of what to do once your heat pump encounters issues.

Bounds Heating & Air, a leading HVAC maintenance contractor in the area, shares troubleshooting tips for your ductless heat pump problems.

Inspecting the Power Supply

One common problem of ductless heat pumps involves the electrical supply. Be sure to check that all the switches are turned on, including the indoor part of the system and the one inside the pump itself. Also, examine the system for tripped circuit breakers.

Checking the Pump’s Internal Unit

An internal panel helps the ductless heat pump send heat across your home. Check for damage first before removing the outer cover. Once inside the unit, you’ll find the thermostat, which controls your desired indoor temperature. See to it that it’s fully functioning, then check to see if the batteries are out of juice. It’s also possible that it got disconnected from the power supply. You may seek professional help from one of our HVAC repair technicians if you think there’s some other reason for its failure.

Checking the Pump’s Outdoor Unit

Next, inspect the ductless heat pump’s outdoor unit. Make sure you can hear the pump running when it is set to “on” from the inside. If it doesn’t, it may not be working due to frost buildup. The system should have a “defrost” option on its external control panel. Press it to warm the pump and get it back in full operation.

While it’s good to troubleshoot a heating system on your own, when in doubt consider contacting Bounds Heating & Air. We offer 24/7 emergency services, which means our NATE-certified technicians are just a phone call away from taking care of your HVAC needs. Whether it’s an air conditioning repair or heating replacement, expect us to handle them with the utmost professionalism in mind.

Give us a call at (352) 278-9123 for more information. You may also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment or request a free estimate. Our Florida service areas include Alachua, FL, and nearby communities.

Category: Heat Pumps