Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Heating’

Boost Heating Efficiency and Pay Less

Monday, February 8th, 2021
twenty-dollar-bill-folded-into-shape-of-a-house

Let’s face it, it’s almost silly to talk about heating systems at all when you live somewhere like Florida. We’re sure your friends or family in the Northwest and Midwest roll their eyes at you when you call 54°F “chilly.” But the fact of the matter is, for us, that is chilly! And it requires a fully functional and powerful heater to keep you comfortable, no matter how briefly you may need that heater, right?

Additionally, who wants to pay more than they actually need to for heating when you live somewhere that you barely use the system? Now that is what’s silly! There are a number of simple ways you can boost your heating efficiency to use it more effectively and save money on at least one monthly utility bill. Read on to learn how.

Continue Reading

Broken Down Heater Have you Stuck in the Cold? Here’s What to Do!

Monday, December 14th, 2020

Alright, alright, we all know that folks north of us and in the Midwest probably laugh at what we call “cold,” but let’s face it, we do deal with chillier temperatures in the wintertime. When we’re used to calling a 95° day “pretty hot” and an 80° day “mild,” then it’s no wonder we’re shivering when temperatures outside dip below 65°! Plus, if it’s rainy or overcast then there’s no natural radiant heat flowing into our home from south-facing windows.

So, we want our heating systems to work, and we want them to work well, right? When yours is in need of a repair—or even worse, when yours has broken down completely, it can feel like an emergency. That’s when it’s time to give our team a call. While you wait for our team to show up though, it’s natural to want to know how to stay warm. Read on as we uncover some tips to do just that.

Continue Reading

Are Damaged Ducts Hurting Your Heating Efficiency?

Monday, February 10th, 2020
hand-sealing-ductwork

If your heater were making an odd noise or if it was failing to start up as temperatures dropped through your home at night, then you probably wouldn’t waste much time in contacting an HVAC professional right? After all, it may not get bone-chilling cold here, but you still deserve to live comfortably! This means your heater needs to work flawlessly for the brief time you really do need it, and you’d likely prefer to pay as little as possible for that comfort.

So, what if there’s a problem with your ductwork? What if it’s accumulated tears and damage over time? Guess what? It’s going to have serious implications for your heating system—and yes, it will hurt efficiency. More on that below, along with other reasons leaky and damaged ductwork is a problem.

Continue Reading

No Matter How Often You Use Your Heater, It Needs a Tune-Up!

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

Technician looking over a gas furnace with a flashlight before cleaning it.True, we don’t have to worry about frigid temperatures in the fall and winter like other parts of the country do. However this doesn’t mean you should just neglect your heating in Navarre, FL. Your heating system deserves attention too, even if it’s only going to be operating for a couple months or so. Actually, maintenance may be even more important for our area, since our heating systems aren’t something we pay a lot of attention to, and therefore could miss the signs of a repair need.

And repair needs are one of the top reasons you need this service. Maintenance helps our technicians spot small issues before they become bigger ones. Keep reading for more detail on this, as well as other benefits of heating maintenance.

Continue Reading

Is Your Aging Heater Draining Your Wallet?

Monday, March 26th, 2018

house and money symbol on seesawWouldn’t it be nice if you had a Destin, FL heating system that would last forever? With how little we use our heating systems around these parts, it can be frustrating when repair needs crop up, and when you discover that you need to replace an aging heater that just can’t be patched up anymore.

Unfortunately, though, as little as we may need these appliances, we still do need them, and the fact of the matter is that you are going to run into some type of problem with your heating system throughout its lifespan. The best thing you can is learn to recognize the signs that your heater is in disrepair, especially if it’s at older system. This way, you can get out in front of the problems before they grow any worse.

Continue Reading

A Few of the Advantages of Ductless Heating

Friday, January 30th, 2015

Ductless heaters have often been used in areas where any kind of centralized heating is either too expensive or not physically viable. They are favored by apartments and other smaller living areas because they do not rely on ducts, making them only able to heat the rooms in which they are installed. This may seem like a disadvantage when compared to the reach of central forced air systems. However, there are a number of reasons to prefer ductless heating, even in a larger living space. Let’s take a look at a few of the advantages of ductless heating.

Energy Efficiency

Centralized forced air heating systems are actually incredibly inefficient when it comes to transporting heat across the house. Ducts are extremely fragile systems, prone to leaks of all kinds from various causes. This causes a staggering amount of heat to be lost every time the heater turns on. The US Department of Energy has estimated that as much as 30% of a forced air system’s heat is lost to duct leaks every time it’s turned on.

Ductless heating systems don’t have to worry about any of this, because they deliver heat directly into the room. They are also not combustion based systems, which means they don’t have to burn any sort of fuel to create heat. Instead, they siphon thermal energy from the air outside and bring it into the room. This makes ductless heating systems quite a bit cheaper to operate than a lot of other systems.

Versatility

Centralized heating is also not very sensitive to the individual needs of a home’s occupants. Most of the time, a central heating system has two states: on and off. It does not account for varying temperature levels in various rooms, only for the immediate area around the thermostat. This “one size fits all” solution can lead to hot and cold spots throughout the house, as well as wasting energy on rooms that don’t need heating.

Ductless heating systems avoid this problem by only having one room to worry about. If you have a ductless heating system installed in each room, you have the option to not only set a different temperature for each but to only heat the rooms that are occupied at the moment. This saves you quite a bit of money.

If you’d like to know more, call Kool Breeze. We offer professional heating services in the Fort Walton Beach area.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Sunday, March 23rd, 2014

Be sure to bookmark the Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc. blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call Kool Breeze of Northwest Florida, Inc. for all your air conditioning, heating, indoor air quality, new construction HVAC, and commercial service needs.

Continue Reading