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What Is the Best Way To Heat a Florida Home?

Worrying about heating your home in such a warm, humid climate might seem unnecessary. However, Floridians have experienced record-breaking cold snaps in recent winters. Severe cold outbreaks occur at least once a year, and you’ll want to prepare your household for them.

Florida homeowners can keep their homes toasty warm with these 3 options:

Most Florida homeowners opt to install a heat pump system for heating.

  • Install a Heat Pump
  • Install a Heat Strip into a Heat Pump
  • Install a Cool Only AC System with a Heat Strip

But, which one is best? Many Florida homeowners opt to install a heat pump system for both cooling and heating. However, the correct choice can differ, based on your comfort preferences and heating needs.

To help you decide, we’ll review each option in further detail. We’ll also cover the importance of properly insulating your home to maximize heating efficiency and reduce monthly energy bills.

Want to install a heat pump or heat strip?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Climate Design. Our HVAC specialists can help you install the right heat pump system or heat strip for your home, heating needs, and budget. You can call us at (727) 295-1572 or click the button below for a free estimate.

Schedule Free Estimate

Install a Heat Pump

Heat pumps can both heat and cool homes, making them an excellent choice for Florida homeowners. They are the most energy efficient when the temperature is above 30°F, which is great considering the Tampa area rarely experiences below-freezing temperatures in an average year.

Because heat pumps can deliver one-and-a-half times more heat energy to a home than the electricity it consumes, they can help you save money on heating costs. According to FPL, you can expect to save up to $75 per year with a heat pump installation compared to a standard cool only AC system with a heat strip.

When you opt for a heat pump properly sized for your home, you’ll enjoy the lowest heating costs possible throughout the winter season. These energy savings can really add up throughout a heat pump’s 10-15 year lifespan. To ensure optimal operation and extend the system’s lifespan, we recommend that heat pump owners schedule annual maintenance.

Install a Heat Strip into a Heat Pump

Rather than creating heat, heat pumps transfer outdoor heat indoors, making them incredibly energy-efficient. The downside is that they will struggle to pull in enough heat when the temperature drops below 30°F. However, such weather conditions are rare in Tampa. Only in frigid weather conditions will a heat pump be unable to heat your Florida home properly.

Another factor to consider is your comfort in winter. Some households prefer warmer indoor air than what a heat pump can produce, typically within the 90-100°F temperature range.

If you want reliable heating during the coldest days of the year or warmer indoor air, you can install an electric heat strip into the heat pump. Electricity heats the heat strip’s wire coils, heating the indoor air flowing over them. The heat pump will operate well most of the time until the weather drops below freezing, and then the auxiliary heat strip will kick in. You can also activate the heat strip with your thermostat’s “AUX HEAT” setting.

While operating a heat strip in a heat pump is more expensive than a standalone heat pump, it’s still advisable to have a dependable backup heat source for the coldest days and to help the heat pump defrost itself.

Install a Cool Only AC System with a Heat Strip

Cool only air conditioners can heat homes with the help of an electric heat strip installed inside the air handler. However, an electric heat strip consumes more energy than a heat pump when used as the primary heating source. It also won’t heat your home adequately when the temperature is below freezing.

Overall, we recommend that Florida homeowners install a heat pump or add a heat strip to an existing heat pump for year-round efficiency and lower energy bills.

If you want to learn more about installing a heat pump or a heat strip, a Climate Design technician can answer any questions you have.

Add Insulation to Your Home

No matter how you choose to heat your home, proper insulation is vital for preventing heat loss. That way, you keep heat indoors in the winter—and your home will stay cool in summer too.

With high-quality blown-in attic insulation that fills in any cracks or crevices, a heat pump and/or heat strip won’t have to work as hard to keep up with your heating demands. Moreover, efficient heating means you can reduce your average energy bill by 20%.

Can’t decide which option to choose? Give Climate Design a call.

Whether you’re interested in installing a heat pump or a heat strip with an AC, a professional Climate Design HVAC technician can help you decide which one is best for your home, heating needs, and budget. Our knowledgeable, NATE-certified installation team has a long history of top-notch heating system installations in the Tampa area.

We offer free estimates on the latest brands and models, plus convenient scheduling times too. Our installations also come with flexible financing options and guaranteed 1-year labor warranties.

Give us a call at (727) 295-1572 or book an appointment today below.

Schedule Free Estimate

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