Florida weather is notoriously tropical, no matter the season. However, we are drawing nearer to fall, which means that temperatures will soon drop to (gasp!) below 60 degrees. If you haven’t started thinking about the heating portion of your HVAC system, it might be time to check in on it. We always recommend a maintenance appointment in the fall, to ensure that your heating system is functioning properly before winter arrives. This is a great opportunity for us to notice issues with your equipment before it creates a larger issue for you down the road. If you’d like to learn more about our maintenance memberships and how they can save you money, click here!

Some of you might be in the market for a new system altogether. In that case, it’s important to differentiate between a basic air conditioner and a heat pump. The main difference? Heat pumps provide heating, while air conditioners do not. Tampa air conditioners need to be combined with resistance heaters for use during our colder months. So if you’re looking for a new system this fall, should you invest in an AC system and a heater, or just a heat pump? We tend to recommend a heat pump, because this type of system is more efficient at heating and can perform better during our mild winters.

The difference between a heat pump and a resistance heater? Heat pumps move heat, while heaters create heat. Moving heat is much more energy-efficient than creating heat. During the winter, heat pumps will take heat from the outside air and move it inside. During the summer (and spring and fall, because Florida has two seasons instead of four), heat pumps function exactly like your normal air conditioner would. They just have the added benefit of working during the winter in an efficient manner– approximately 3x more efficient, to be exact!

The main issue most people have with heat pumps is that they’re not designed to work on very cold days, ie. when temperatures drop below 30 degrees. However, January 18th of 2018 is the only day in recent history that dropped below 30 (28 degrees to be exact), and that was a complete anomaly. Most Tampa AC customers feel confident that heat pumps are the right system for them, especially when you consider the energy savings associated with them.

Heat pumps use approximately 1/3 of the energy required to heat your home, when compared to a resistance heater. As you can imagine, that amounts to quite a bit of money saved on your monthly bills. If you choose to finance your new system, the money saved on your electric bills can make up for the added cost associated with investing in a heat pump. So really, you end up with a better, more efficient system for the same price!

If you’re interested in installing a heat pump in your Tampa home, give Ahoy! Cooling & Heating a call. We are ready to give you a free estimate at your convenience. We can’t wait to add you to our list of satisfied customers!

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