Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc Blog: Archive for October, 2014

What Kind of Home Heating Is Best for Fort Walton Beach?

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Even in Florida’s warm environment, winter can bring about some pretty cold days. As fall comes to a close, a lot of homeowners are thinking about upgrading their heating systems to make the following months more comfortable. So, what kind of home heating system is best for a discerning Floridian? Check out some of our recommendations below.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are an excellent choice for areas like Fort Walton, with higher average winter temperatures than most other areas of the country. A heat pump is primarily comprised of two units, one indoor and one outdoor. The outdoor unit works by absorbing thermal energy from the air around it. It then sends that thermal energy inside to be distributed by the indoor unit. This is why it is called a heat pump, because it pumps heat from one place to another instead of generating it. This makes the heat pump very energy efficient, resulting in a decrease in the cost of heating for the homeowner. It doesn’t work as well in very cold environments, because there is less thermal energy in the air for it to siphon. This should not be a problem in Florida’s warmer climate, though.

Radiant Heating

Radiant heating systems are boiler-based, and use a series of pipes to distribute heat throughout the house. These pipes are commonly installed between the floor and subfloor of the rooms that are to be heated. The boiler then heats water and distributes it throughout the house. As the water runs through the pipes, heat radiates up through the floor and into the room. Water is a much better conductor of heat than air is, making radiant heating more efficient at delivering heat than forced air systems. By not utilizing ductwork, radiant heating also avoids the 20-30% heat loss to duct leaks that forced air systems experience. Radiant heating does require a bit more of an investment than other systems, but it is one of the best options available when it comes to efficient heating.

If you are interested in upgrading to a new heating system in Fort Walton Beach, give Kool Breeze a call to set up a service appointment today.

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The Advantages of Electric Furnaces

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

Electric furnaces tend to get overshadowed by the more common gas-fueled furnaces. There are a number of reasons for this. Natural gas tends to be a cheaper fuel source than electricity. Despite this, an electric furnace can actually offer a number of great benefits. Have a look at the advantages below of owning an electric furnace.

Efficiency

It’s true that natural gas is a cheaper fuel source for furnaces on average. However, electric furnaces are virtually 100% efficient at converting electricity to thermal energy. Combustion heat systems tend to hover between 75-95%. This means that, while you will be paying more for the fuel, you will be paying less overall for your heating.

Safety

Though gas-powered heating systems are still very safe, they cannot avoid producing toxic combustion byproducts like carbon monoxide. Normally, the heating system will vent the toxic gases outside the home. There is always a change, however, of something going wrong and flooding your house with potentially deadly fumes. There is also a risk of fire associated with combustion systems, commonly caused by a gas leak or overheating. An electric furnace does not utilize combustion, and so produces no toxic byproducts. This way, you never have to worry about being in danger from your heating system.

Accessibility

Though natural gas lines are widely available, there are still some places where you will be unable to access one. Even if the city has the infrastructure for them, you will have to pay to install a new line if your house is not already equipped with one. None of this is necessary with an electric furnace. Electricity is available in practically every populated area in the country, and doesn’t require any extra groundwork to be installed in your home.

Solar Interfacing

Electric furnaces can easily interface with solar heating systems to provide even more efficient heating. This is also possible with more traditional combustion-based systems, but tends to require expensive retro-fitting to make the systems mesh properly.

If you are thinking about installing an electric furnace, call Kool Breeze today. We install electric furnaces throughout the Navarre area. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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The Advantages of an Electric Furnace

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Homeowners have many choices when it comes to heating their homes, but sometimes geography or other circumstances can limit your heating system choices. When it comes to heating with a furnace, the most commonly-used fuel is natural gas, but there are certain areas that do not have access to a natural gas line. As such, you may want to consider the installation of an electric furnace. An electric furnace can provide quality heating for your home in Fort Walton Beach, FL and with today’s models, you can also achieve excellent energy efficiency. But no matter what your heating needs may be, Kool Breeze certified technicians are ready and available to help.

How Do Electric Furnaces Work?

Electric furnaces are quite simple. The heating element consists of tightly-wound coils that, when electrified, get red-hot. A large fan at the bottom of the cabinet draws air into the cabinet and over the coils. This newly-warmed air is then blown into your home via ductwork.

Some Advantages of Electric Furnaces

Here are some advantages of electric furnaces:

  • Long lifespan – the average electric furnace has a lifespan of 20 to 30 years; a gas furnace has a typical lifespan of 15 to 20 years. This can give you some extra time before needing replacement.
  • Better humidity balance – certain electric furnace models have a combustion style that doesn’t dry the air as much as a gas furnace can so your indoor moisture levels can stay even and more comfortable.
  • Very energy efficient – electric furnaces can be up to 100% efficient because they do not use fossil fuels.
  • Safety – while no heating system is without potential safety hazards, you won’t have to worry about harmful fumes like carbon monoxide with an electric furnace.
  • Clean – because there is no combustion with an electric furnace, there is no soot or ash to worry about, which makes annual maintenance easier.

Not every area has easy access to fossil fuels, but just about every area does have access to electricity. If you think an electric furnace is a good fit for your home and needs, call Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment for your heating in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

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The Advantages of Gas Furnaces

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

Cold weather isn’t as much a problem in our part of the country as it is in others, but we still need reliable heating systems for the winter months of the year. Gas furnaces are one of the most common heating systems around, and there are some good reasons for this. If you are in need of a new furnace in Pensacola, you may want to take a look at what a gas furnace can offer you. However, it is important to hire professionals for any heating installation, and the trained professionals at Kool Breeze can help you with all your heating needs.

How Does a Gas Furnace Work?

When a gas furnace starts its heating cycle, a fan known as the draft fan inducer motor draws air into the burner assembly; at the same time, the gas is released and the burners are ignited. The heat from the burners warms the heat exchanger, and the air from inside the burner assembly is exhausted to the outside. A second fan, known as the blower fan, turns on, and brings in cooler air from your living spaces through the return ductwork and blows this cooler air over the warmed heat exchanger. The blown air is warmed, and continues its way into the supply ducts, which deliver it into your living spaces. The cycle continues until the set temperature has been reached.

What Are the Advantage of a Gas Furnace?

There are a few advantages of gas furnaces worth noting:

  • Constant fuel supply – because your furnace is connected directly to your gas line, there is no need to worry about managing fuel deliveries or managing fuel deliveries.
  • The heat is hot and fast – gas heat reaches temperatures of approximately 130 degrees. It also reaches this temperature quickly. This means that your home will heat quickly, and be warm and comfortable, even on the coldest days.
  • Less expensive fuel – natural gas is the most inexpensive fossil fuel available, which can make a difference in your monthly energy bills.
  • Clean-burning – natural gas is the most clean-burning fuel around, so there is little-to-no soot or other type of mess created by natural gas.

A gas furnace in Pensacola can offer you energy efficiency, comfort and convenience. Interested to find out more? Call Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment with one of our trained experts.

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Consider a Ductless System for Your New Heating Installation

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

The fall season is a great time to install a new heating system in Navarre. One option you may want to consider is ductless heating. Ductless heating offers several great benefits, including the ability to offer both heating and cooling. However, if your heating system isn’t installed correctly, you won’t gain any benefit, which is why it’s important to hire trained professionals. For almost 30 years, Kool Breeze has been professionally installing all kinds of heating systems, and we bring this experience to every job we do. Call us today!

How a Ductless System Heats and Cools

Heat pumps work by transferring heat from one place to another; refrigerant is used to facilitate this process. During the summer months, the heat pump removes heat from your indoor air and transfers it outside; in the winter, the heat pump absorbs heat from the outdoor air, concentrates it, and transfers it inside via the ductless blowers to heat your home.

Heat pumps can heat and cool homes thanks to a component called a reversing valve. This valve changes the flow of the refrigerant, which is how the heat pump switches from heating mode to cooling mode.

Benefits of a Ductless System

You know that a ductless system offers both heating and cooling, but it also offers these benefits:

  • Customized heating – each indoor blower operates independently; this allows you to set the temperature of each blower as you want, which maximizes your comfort level.
  • Easy installation – the installation of a ductless system is pretty straightforward: the outdoor unit is typically placed on the ground, and the indoor blowers are mounted flush against walls or hung from ceilings. The indoor blowers connect to the outdoor unit via a small conduit drilled into an exterior wall. An outdoor unit can support up to 4 indoor blowers.
  • Energy efficiency – a heat pump doesn’t use any fossil fuels to operate; instead, it uses a small amount of electricity. This makes ductless systems very energy efficient.

A ductless heating system in Navarre can offer you comfort, heating and cooling, and energy efficiency, all in one system. If this sounds like the kind of heating system you are looking for, call Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.

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