Picking the Best Heating System 

Orlando homeowners have several heating system options when it’s time for a furnace replacement. Even in a mild climate like this, winters do require heating. These guidelines will help you know when it’s time and which to choose.

When It’s Time to Replace

With routine care and maintenance, most central HVAC systems last between 12 and 20 years. Before failing, they may start to:

• Break frequently.
• Make noises. A gas furnace that has banging noises coming from the air handler may have a cracked heat exchanger, a serious and life-threatening failure.
• Use more energy.

The best choices for heating systems in this climate include:

Heat Pumps

In almost every way, a heat pump is the ideal option for heating homes in this climate. It provides summer cooling, and simply switches to heating by reversing the refrigerant flow as temperatures fall. It requires no gas and is the most energy efficient way to heat using electricity.

These HVAC appliances work like refrigerators. In the summer, they collect the heat in the home and send it outside. In the winter, they use the heat in the air outdoors and bring it inside.

Gas Furnaces

Gas furnaces combined with central air conditioners are called gas packs. They cool air with the same components heat pumps use, but instead of using a reversing valve, gas packs use natural gas to supply the heat.

The heating components of the furnace include a burner where combustion takes place and a heat exchanger that the home’s air blows over. Gas furnaces provide the same amount of heat regardless of outdoor temperatures.

Besides these heating system options, be sure that your HVAC contractor sizes the system carefully using Manual J software A system that’s too large will reduce indoor comfort, raise energy costs and reduce comfort. It will run in short cycles that increase wear on all the parts and cause premature system problems.

Choosing among the heating system options available for your home isn’t a do-it-yourself project. For professional advice, contact Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions, providing trusted HVAC services for Orlando-area homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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