Benefits from Regular Heating Maintenance

November 19th, 2014

Most homeowners ignore heating maintenance until something goes very wrong with their system. This is understandable, considering the perceived cost-benefit analysis. When you schedule heating maintenance without any particular problem, you’re paying money without any visible gain. The problem with that reasoning is that it doesn’t take into account the many benefits of regular heating maintenance. Let’s examine the real reasons you want to schedule regular maintenance for your heating system.

Wear and Tear

As your heater gets older, wear and tear from normal use will begin to degrade the various parts in the heater. This is not something that can be avoided, really. It’s simply a side effect of regular use. The problem you’ll begin to experience is that as this wear and tear progresses, there will be a slow decline in the ability of the various parts in your heater to function as well as they once did. We’re not talking about parts actually breaking, though that will happen if left untreated. This is simply the degradation of efficiency that comes with parts aging and being used regularly.

What does this mean for you? For starters, your heating bill is probably going to go up over time as your heater ages. You may notice it right away, you may not. Either way, as the parts in your heater decline, the heater will be forced to work harder to produce the same heat output. That means you’re burning more fuel for greater total cost.

The second consequence of letting this wear and tear go untreated is eventual breakdown. The parts will eventually reach a point where they wear down enough to break completely. This is where most homeowners notice a problem and call a technician. The issue is that by the time a part wears enough to actually break, it tends to be a lot more expensive to fix.

Regular heating maintenance monitors and fixes these issues before they progress far enough to cause problems. If you schedule heating maintenance even once a year, it is often enough to identify and repair or replace any part that is threatening to cause issues later on. You’ll save money on heating, and on repairs, and have much more peace of mind.

If you haven’t scheduled heating maintenance in a while, call Kool Breeze. We provide professional heating services in the Fort Walton Beach area.

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How Can I Make My Heating More Reliable?

November 5th, 2014

There is no way to ensure that your heating system will never breakdown, but there are some steps you can take to help make your system more reliable. To be clear, we aren’t talking about handling a heating repair for your Pensacola Beach home yourself. Instead, we have some suggestions on how you can make your heating system more reliable:

Schedule Regular Maintenance

It’s recommended that you schedule heating maintenance annually. Maintenance isn’t just a quick review of your system; it’s a full tune-up that also includes safety and performance testing. During a maintenance visit, the components in your system are inspected, cleaned and adjusted, and all moving parts are lubricated. With professional maintenance, your system can perform optimally, which helps prevent potential repairs from developing.

Make Needed Repairs

At some point your heating system will need repair. You may hear signs of problems, such as strange sounds, or see signs of problems, such as leaks or a decrease in heating. It can be very tempting to wait before making needed repairs, or even ignoring signs of problems, particularly if your heating system is still operational. This is never a good idea. Problems with your heater won’t fix themselves and typically become worse with time. Waiting for your heating system to completely breakdown can be a time-consuming and costly mistake. If you are seeing the signs that it’s time to schedule repair, make an appointment with your technician.

Is It Time for Replacement?

Do you have an aging system that has become unreliable? Are you making multiple repairs to your system just to keep it operational? It may be time to consider a heating replacement. One of the many benefits of a new heating system is that you’ll have a reliable heating system that you can count on.

Taking steps toward prevention can help reduce the amount of heating repair you may need in Pensacola Beach. Need more information? Call Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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

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

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

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

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

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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Why Sizing Is Crucial for Commercial AC Installation

September 24th, 2014

Your business space needs to be comfortable for your employees and customers; otherwise, your business could suffer. Having a properly-sized air conditioner means the difference between having the comfort you need and not having it. A lot of factors go into correctly sizing an air conditioner for a space, much more than just square footage. Kool Breeze has offered comprehensive commercial air conditioning services in Fort Walton Beach since 1986, and we can help you choose and install an air conditioner that will keep your employees and customers comfortable for years to come.

Why Size Matters

There are only two ways to go when an air conditioner is the wrong size: too big or too small. Different problems arise in each scenario, but both scenarios have one commonality: they will leave you feeling uncomfortable.

Too Small

When your air conditioning system is too small, it won’t be able to cool your business space as needed. It will try, though, and you’ll see the evidence of this in the form of high energy bills and possible repairs. Why? A system that is too small will run continuously as it tries to achieve your set temperature. Continuous cycling can also lead to overheating, malfunction, premature aging and possible breakdown, which can cost you in repairs. All in all, it’s not a good thing for you, your business or your system.

Too Big

Yes, you can have an air conditioner that is too big, and it will cause you problems. The main issues caused by installing an air conditioner that is too big for your space are:

  • Loss of moisture control
  • Short-cycling

The reason you can lose moisture control with a system that is too big is because it cools your space too quickly – it doesn’t give the air conditioner time to properly dehumidify the air. This can leave your indoor air feeling cold and clammy. A second problem that can develop with a system that is too big is short-cycling. Short-cycling refers to an air conditioning system that cycles on and off too frequently. When your space cools too quickly, it also regains heat quickly. As such, your AC will cycle on and off constantly, which can lead to mechanical problems and serious wear and tear.

Working with a professional who can correctly calculate the cooling load for your business space is the first step toward installing a commercial air conditioning system in Fort Walton Beach that will properly fit your business space. Call Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.

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Rely on Professionals for Your Commercial Air Conditioning Installation

September 17th, 2014

If you need a new commercial air conditioning system, you’ll need to find the right company to help you choose the correct cooling capacity and provide professional installation services. So if you want someone who knows the ins and outs of commercial air conditioning systems, don’t go with just any air conditioning service company. When you choose an inexperienced technician for the job, especially one who specializes only in residential air conditioners, your business may suffer. Systems that are not sized or installed correctly run into problems sooner than those that receive professional commercial air conditioning installation from a specialist.

Residential systems are not like commercial air conditioners for many reasons. First, commercial units are generally much larger than those installed in homes, but this isn’t the only difference. Most commercial HVAC units are packaged systems, meaning every part is contained in a single unit. Whereas traditional residential air conditioning units are split systems, with a condenser unit outside and an evaporator unit indoors, packaged units contain all of these parts in one cabinet and are installed either on the rooftop or right outside the building, connecting directly to the ducts. Another feature of commercial packaged units which makes them perfect for businesses is the fact that they are modular. This means that you can add modules onto the system to adjust the cooling capacity as your business grows rather than installing a whole new AC. However, an inexperienced technician may be unfamiliar with some of these differences, and you may end up with a system that is not the correct size. A unit that is too small will not cool your entire business, while a unit that is too large may lead to compressor failure.

Besides, you’ll want to find a company that knows the ins and outs of your specific system and has experience making repairs and doing routine maintenance so you can contact them again in the future. When you need commercial services, you want the ability to call professionals who can assess repair needs quickly and get the job done right so that your business can return to normal operation soon. And the best company for this job may be the people who installed it in the first place! When you need commercial air conditioning installation in Pensacola Beach, give a call to Kool Breeze.

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What Are the Differences Between Heat Pump and Air Conditioning Repair?

September 10th, 2014

Heat pumps and air conditioners can seem like very different systems, but the truth is that, in cooling mode, a heat pump is an air conditioner. Contrary to popular belief, air conditioners don’t cool by pushing cold air into a space; they remove the heat and humidity from that space. Heat pumps also transfer heat, which is how they are similar to air conditioners. The main difference between the two systems is that a heat pump can also provide heat. But whether you need heat pump or air conditioning repair in Navarre, FL one thing is for sure: you should call the trained specialists at Kool Breeze for all your AC repairs.

The Differences in Repair

Both central AC systems and heat pumps have a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator, and both use refrigerant. As such, repairs to these parts are the same. The differences have to do with the heating mode, and more specifically, with the components that help with that:

  • Problems with the reversing valve – the reversing valve in a heat pump is what allows it to switch modes from heating to cooling. One of the more common problems with the reversing valve is that it can get stuck in a certain position, which essentially freezes the operation of the pump. The valve can get stuck in either one of the modes, or in between. Sometimes a stuck valve can be repaired, but sometimes full replacement is necessary.
  • Problems with pressurization – high and low pressure in the reversing valve helps move the slide that switches between heating and cooling modes. Pressure problems are typically triggered by issues with the compressor, a refrigerant leak or a dirty air filter. These problems can alter the pressure and cause problems with operation of the heat pump.

Whether you have a heat pump or a traditional central air conditioner, the most important aspect to any air conditioning repair is to hire a professional with the knowledge and expertise to get the job done correctly. If you are experiencing issues with your AC, call Kool Breeze today and schedule an appointment.

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