How To Save Money On Air Conditioning Repair, Service & Installation In Charleston

April 7th, 2020

As local temperatures and humidity start to creep into our usual summertime balmy levels here in Charleston, so to, comes the increased strain on our air conditioning systems.

Whether you have a traditional central A/C, ductless mini-split system or even geothermal cooling, this is about the time of year your HVAC gets a bit more attention that you might want.

Unfortunately that extra attention on your HVAC can come with extra cost as well.

If something does happen with your HVAC and you have to dole out some extra dollars to have it repaired, replaced or serviced below are some quick tips that can save you time & money when it’s time to give your local HVAC company near you a call this year.

Saving Money On AC Repair & Service

We go into more detail in this post about money saving tips for HVAC service calls, but if you need to have your system repaired or serviced, it’s good to have the following information for your HVAC company ready:

 

  • System Make & Model
  • System Age (Approximate)
  • Service Call History

 

Even if you have a few of the above notes about your system’s information & history, it can save your HVAC tech a ton of time troubleshooting your issue. That extra time can sometimes save you extra money when it comes to the final service/repair bill, so try to have that information on hand before calling your heating and air company.

The other major thing you can do is to sign up for a maintenance plan for your system after getting it repaired or serviced. Maintenance plans typically come with decreased pricing on both replacement parts and labor — every little bit adds up, so be sure to ask your HVAC company about their benefits of an HVAC maintenance plan.

Saving Money On AC Installation or Replacement

If your HVAC system is past its prime and a new system or replacement is in the stars for 2020, there are ways to keep what is usually a high price tag, as low — or differed — when you move forward with your project.

Many area homeowners receive rebates from our local electric companies when they go with higher efficiency air conditioning systems, so be sure to ask your provider about system requirements before you start your installation.

Besides rebates, most HVAC companies also have some sort of finance offer (details often change with the season/promotion), which allows you to pay off your new system over time with little or no interest.

While financing doesn’t necessarily lower your overall cost, it does keep it from stinging all at once, which can benefit many Lowcountry homeowners’ monthly budgets.

Continue Reading

How Long Do HVAC Systems Last In The Lowcountry?

March 27th, 2020

No matter which make or model of HVAC system you currently have in your Lowcountry home or business, time will always win in the long run.

During last month’s Prehistoric Comfort Contest promotion we saw our fair share of systems defeated by time, with no preference on make or model.

Like any other electrical/mechanical system in our world we use everyday — like our cars and trucks — heating and air conditioning systems can and will wear out over time.

That said then, just how long can you expect your HVAC system to last here in the Lowcountry?

Different system types and aspects determine the expected lifespan while other important factors contribute to both shortening or lengthening that lifespan. Below is a quick rundown of what you can expect out of your HVAC system here in Charleston.

Traditional HVAC Systems

When we say “traditional” HVAC systems we’re referring to the typical central air conditioning or heat pump units that one might see sitting outside most Lowcountry homes.

These systems normally have an outdoor unit (which conditions the air) connected to an indoor unit that pushes the air around a home’s duct system.

While the technology for these systems has improved vastly over the years (like Trane’s XV20i AC unit ), most systems of this type/setup generally will log about 12 – 15 good years for your home here in Charleston.

As you’ll read below, though, there are things that you can do to reach that 15 year mark and beyond with ease.

Mini-split Ductless HVAC Systems

Mini-split ductless air conditioning systems are becoming more and more popular here in the Lowcountry over recent years.

As some homeowners deal with constant flooding under their homes (and the constant duct cleanup and repair), they’ve been opting for mini-split ductless systems, like the M-Series Mitsubishi model to replace their traditional HVAC systems.

That factor, coupled with the flexibility and dual operation (both heating and cooling) make mini-splits a great choice in the Lowcountry, but how long will they last?

Under most normal operating situations, you can expect a lifespan of 15-20 years for most ductless mini-split models.

Geothermal HVAC Systems

Another type of system that’s growing in popularity here in Charleston are geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Using the ground’s naturally steady temperature (about 55-77 degrees Fahrenheit), geothermal heat pumps can both cool your home in the summer (pumping heat in your home underground) and heat it in the winter (pumping heat up into your home from the ground).

These systems are highly efficient, with monthly energy bills being drastically reduced (up to 70% in some cases).

On top of that, when you install a geothermal HVAC system you’ll be getting more than your money’s worth as far as life expectancy, with the above ground components lasting up to 25 years and the below ground components lasting up to 100 years.

System Operation & Maintenance

As mentioned earlier, HVAC systems aren’t any different than any other mechanical system in our world — they have a definitive lifespan of good use.

However, having your system properly maintained and serviced throughout that lifespan can and will ultimately extend that particular lifespan.

If you’re not sure how old your Lowcountry HVAC system might be or want to talk about a possible replacement – be sure to give a local, experienced heating and air company a call. They’ll be able to estimate how much time you’ve got left on your system and give you the best options for updating your system this year.

Continue Reading

How Air Purifiers Work And Why The HALO-LED Model May Be The Best One Yet

March 18th, 2020

A few weeks ago we touched on a few quick, simple ways to improve the indoor air quality in your Lowcountry home, with one of those ways being the installation of a whole-home air purifier.

In this week’s post we’re going to dig into a little more detail on air purifying technology, the latest innovations in the indoor air quality industry and give you a quick rundown on the HALO-LED model by RGF Environmental Group.

Different Types Of Air Purifiers: Passive vs. Active

Air purifiers generally come in two different styles: active or passive.

Passive air purifying technology you’ll probably be much more familiar with, with the primary example being your home’s air filter in your HVAC system.

In today’s post, though, we’ll be focusing on active air purifying technologies. The “active” part of this technology refers to the air purifier using more advanced technology to go on the offensive — in a sense — against indoor air pollutants.

Active air purifiers use a few different types of technology to remove particles from the air, with ionizers and ozone generators being some of the more commonly used types.

Ozone vs. Ionizing Air Filters

Ozone generators have many industrial and commercial air and water cleaning applications, as they create ozone molecules that interact with air pollutants, producing a chemical reaction which neutralizes those pollutants.

However, with ozone also coming with certain health risks, manufacturers and consumers tend to lean toward ionizing air purifiers.

Ionizing air purifiers use technology to charge the particles in the air, making them stick to nearby surfaces or specialized plates which then neutralize them via a variety of methods.

What Makes The HALO-LED Model Different

Even though ionizing air purifiers are generally a bit safer to use than ozone generators, they still can indirectly product the harmful ozone mentioned above.

What sets the HALO-LED model apart is effectiveness in producing the desired oxidizing effects and particle neutralization while being zero ozone compliant or producing any other harmful byproduct.

This is done using UV light technology coupled with self-cleaning ionizers, which work in combination to reduce airborne and surface microbial, bacteria, viruses, mold, odors allergens, dust and more indoor air pollutants.

The HALO-LED also conveniently fits into your existing ductwork, working in combination with your HVAC system to effectively treat every cubic inch of air conditioned space in your Lowcountry home.

Air purifying technology and studies have come a long way over the years, and with RGF’s HALO-LED whole-home in-duct model, it’s taken another large leap forward.

Continue Reading

What Is An Air Handler And What Does It Do? HVAC Explained

March 6th, 2020

If you’ve had your HVAC system repaired, replaced or serviced in your Lowcountry home, odds are good that you may have heard your HVAC contractor talk about your system’s “air handler”.

Whether they were tuning up the blower motor, balancing the fan or simply just checking out its components, your home’s air handler plays a vital role in your HVAC system’s overall performance.

That said, for those of you that may not know what exactly an air handler is below is a quick rundown of its operation, how it fits into your home’s HVAC system and some recommendations on particular makes and models that Lowcountry homeowners especially favor.

Air Handler Basics

As the name implies, an air handler essentially “handles the air” that moves throughout your home’s ductwork.

Most Lowcountry homes will have an outdoor unit like a traditional central air conditioner or heat pump which works in coordination with your air handler to condition the air in your home (remove heat/humidity).

Mentioned above, your air handler’s blower motor is then used to push and circulate the conditioned air throughout your home’s duct system until your specific comfort settings are met.

Air handlers also may have an optional electrical heating element, which can be used to augment your home’s particular heating source.

The Importance of Your Air Handler

As you can imagine, if your air handler suffers a major breakdown or is operating poorly, you’ll definitely know it right away.   That’s why you will want to let an HVAC company near you help troubleshoot its performance issues.

Why Your Next Air Handler Should Be A Trane

Your air handler takes on a heavy load of your overall HVAC system’s operation, so you can probably guess two things:

  • 1. Your air handler may use a lot of electricity/power.
  • 2. Your air handler may create a lot of noise during operation (from the blower motor).

Now if you really want to optimize your HVAC system’s performance (and help lower your monthly power bills), we’d recommend Trane’s Hyperion Communicating TAM9 in most cases in the Lowcountry.

The Hyperion Communicating line of air handlers use variable speed blower motors, which can adjust your air handlers operation at a more granular level — instead of the traditional on/off operation of traditional systems.

This “fine-tuning” of operation means that it will efficiently use energy throughout its normal operation and give you much quieter operation as well.

The “communicating” part of the Hyperion Communicating namesake means it can tie into Trane’s Comfortlink II system and smart thermostats to collect and optimize your system’s performance even further.

We could go on about Trane air handler benefits, but to wrap things up in this post we hope that you now have a better understanding of your home’s air handling equipment and can now see the pivotal role it can play within your home’s overall system performance.

Continue Reading

5 Quick, Simple Ways To Improve The Indoor Air Quality In Your Lowcountry Home

February 26th, 2020

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations — a fact that can be somewhat upsetting given that most of us spend a large percentage of our time indoors.

If left untreated, pollutants and allergens in your indoor air like dust, mold, pet dander, lead, ozone, pesticides, cleaning chemical compounds and more can end up in our bodies and can ultimately lead to various health defects (asthma & other respiratory diseases) in many cases.

Unfortunately, here in the Lowcountry some of these indoor air quality cases can be compounded by our year-round humidity levels and our extended time indoors escaping the summertime heat.

Fortunately, though, listed below are 5 simple ways that you can quickly improve your Lowcountry home’s air quality and help fend off those pollutants.

1. Vacuum, Mop Regularly & Use A Floor Mat

Many of your home’s indoor air pollutants and allergens can end up settling in your home’s various dust particles, so keeping things tidy by vacuuming — then mopping — can help keep those allergen-filled dust particles from ending up in your body.

Your floor mats aren’t just for decoration, either. Many of the outdoor pollutants and dust particles can become indoor pollutants quickly when people track them into your house, so adding a few around your home’s entrances can help collect those before they make their way into your home. (And remember to clean those mats regularly as well.)

2. Keep Indoor Humidity Down

Nobody likes their home’s air to be muggy and full of moisture. It’s not only uncomfortable to live in, but also creates a breeding ground for mold, dust mites and other indoor air pollutants. Most Lowcountry homes are already equipped with built-in humidity reducers: air conditioners (or heat pumps).

Even with an air conditioner installed, however, if it is not sized or configured correctly you can end up with more moisture in your home than you would want, so be sure to keep track of humidity levels even when your system is running the most.

3. Change Your Air Filters Regularly

Your HVAC system’s air filters are a vital defense against indoor air pollutants, but if they’re not changed or cleaned regularly those air pollutants can settle in your ductwork and even build up on the wrong side of your air filter.

Both of those situations can wreak havoc on your home’s indoor air quality which is the opposite effect of your air filter’s purpose.

On top of this, a clogged up air filter can cause your HVAC system to run inefficiently — something that can drive up your monthly energy bill.

4. Sign Up For An Annual HVAC Maintenance Plan

More of an indirect way of improving indoor air quality, but having an experienced, local HVAC company come out a few times a year to inspect your system can help you catch any unwanted sources of indoor air pollutants coming from your system.

An annual maintenance plan can also help you catch the humidity or air filter issues mentioned above as well, so be sure to ask your heating and air company in Charleston about their maintenance plans and rates.

5. Install A Whole-Home, In-Duct Air Purifier

While the above listed air quality-improvement steps above can go a long way toward making your indoor air quality better, something more homeowners in Charleston are adding are whole-home in-duct air purifiers like the HALO-LED™ In-Duct Air Purifier into their HVAC system.

These types of air filters use advanced filtration, ultra-violet (UV) technology to remove airborne contaminants from your home’s air. They’re installed directly into the ductwork of your HVAC system and turn on automatically when your system kicks on, ensuring nearly every cubic inch of air in your home gets treated.

We hope you take the steps to make your home and family’s indoor air quality better this year and if you follow the above listed ways, you’ll be well on your way to a better air quality this year.

Continue Reading

How To Get A Free Air Conditioning Upgrade In Charleston In 3 Easy Steps

February 17th, 2020

Upgrading or replacing your HVAC system in Charleston can be a expensive endeavor when time runs out on your old system.

That’s exactly why you don’t want to miss out on this extremely rare promotion we’re running through March 1st this year: the Prehistoric Comfort Contest.

It’s a simple contest: we want Lowcountry homeowners to send us pics of their prehistoric systems, the oldest of those submitted will win a completely free, no-strings-attached system upgrade — installation included!

That said, you’re only 3 short, simple steps away from getting that much needed HVAC system upgrade for your Lowcountry home this year.

1. Take Out Your Phone or Other Camera

No need to hire or be a professional photographer for this step: most cell phones these days take incredibly great pictures so you can use its built-in camera for this step, no problem.

2. Snap A Pic Of Your System

Using whichever kind of camera you find fit, center up your system in-frame and take a few snaps of your old system. We’ll need to be able to see the model & serial number on your system (to verify its age & other details), so be sure to fit those into your pics as well.

3. Submit Your Prehistoric System To Us

Now that you’ve got pics of your old, prehistoric system all you need to do is fill in the form on this page and upload them for us to review.

After submission we’ll schedule a quick visit to verify your system entry and collect any additional details we might need for a potential free system upgrade, should yours win the contest.

Then all you have to do is sit back, relax and wait to hear if your system is the oldest among our entries or one of the runner-up winners that will get 15% off a system upgrade from us.

Easy, right? Submit your prehistoric system today or contact us with any questions you may have about the contest.

Continue Reading

HVAC Reviews: Trane ComfortLink™ II XL1050 Smart Thermostat

January 27th, 2020

We’re living in an age of advanced interconnectivity when it comes to household electronics.

The wave of Internet of Things (IoT) device applications have touched nearly every aspect of our daily lives. From wireless home security systems to automated lighting & switches, to smart speakers like Google Home and Amazon Echo, our ability to connect and control our lives is ever increasing.

Not to be left out of this connected age, Trane’s ComfortLink™ II XL1050 throws the HVAC industry’s hat into the smart home device lineup.

As you’ll see below, the XL1050 is one of the most advanced thermostats out on the market and gives homeowners and their local HVAC companies a whole new level of connectivity and control like never before.

What Exactly Is A “Smart” Thermostat?

While we’ve detailed the differences between analog vs. digital type thermostats, you may not know the difference between a digital vs. smart thermostat.

The primary difference between a digital thermostat and a smart thermostat lies in its ability to “learn” and adjust settings based on its inputs. While a regular digital thermostat may have advanced features like programmable schedules, it still heavily relies on user input for normal operation.

A smart thermostat does everything a digital thermostat does programmatically, but takes it to another level by tracking, measuring and adjusting its settings — automatically — to optimize the performance of your home’s heating and air conditioning system.

Essentially, all smart thermostats are digital thermostats but not all digital thermostats are smart thermostats.

How the XL1050 “learns” to optimize performance is by tracking and analyzing data from your home’s HVAC system operation. The system also works with variable speed systems like Trane’s XV20i Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps to optimize temperature and humidity by adjusting compressor & fan speeds — in real-time.

These real-time adjustments ensure not only extremely efficient system operation, but also provide you the most comfortable, reliable air conditions possible.

Next Level, Real-Time Diagnostics

Since the XL1050 receives all of your system’s performance data in real-time for performance optimization, it can also use that data to diagnose any potential issues your system may be have — also in real-time.

This diagnostic data is provided via the Nexia Diagnostics system and dashboard. This diagnostic dashboard can then be used by your local heating and air contractor (with your permission, of course) to assess your system’s health and notify you of any potential issues you may be having.

This data allows your HVAC company to know everything about your system before making any service calls. That means the service call time can be reduced, and also helps avoid any repeat visits to get your system back working again — both of which save you time & money on system maintenance & repairs.

Your Remote Access Smart Home Hub

The XL1050 comes with a built-in Nexia Bridge, making it a quick, plug & play smart home hub for more than just your heating and air conditioning controls.

Using Z-Wave wireless communication technology, you can connect up to 200 different types of smart home devices to your XL1050 that include lights, door locks, smart speakers like Google Home and many, many more.

All of these devices can be controlled via your Nexia app. While controlling your HVAC system comes free with the installation of the XL1050, adding additional smart home devices may require a modestly-priced monthly service subscription. Be sure to ask your local Trane dealer about subscription details.

Large, Full Color 7-Inch Touchscreen Display

For those of you that still like to operate things manually at your physical thermostat device, the XL1050 has you covered — and then some.

It’s large, 7-Inch full color touchscreen display allows you to do everything from small temperature adjustments to quickly viewing things like outdoor temperature, indoor humidity and even air cleaner settings.

You can even set a screen lock on your XL1050 that helps ensure other people don’t make any unwanted changes to your comfort settings.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to choosing a thermostat for your Lowcountry home, there are few options on the market that can beat the Trane ComfortLink™ II XL1050 in features & usability.

At Carolina Climate Control, we’ve installed several of these in Charleston homes and can say that homeowners are always wildly impressed with both the Nexia app/system and the money it potentially saves them via performance optimization.

So if you’re looking at getting an air conditioning replacement here this winter — or anytime this year for that matter — be sure to ask about installing the XL1050; you won’t be disappointed.

Continue Reading

4 HVAC Mistakes To Avoid This Spring For Your Home In Charleston

January 10th, 2020

Winter is still in full season here in the Lowcountry, but for today’s post we wanted to start looking ahead to the warmer, humid days of spring which, as we all know, can come up fast here in Charleston.

In one of our last posts, we mentioned why winter may be the best time to replace your air conditioner, so if you’re one of the several dozen homeowners that installed a new system this year, you should be all set for spring 2020.

If you haven’t quite pushed through a replacement project yet or don’t plan on it this winter then you’ll want to make sure you avoid the following common HVAC mistakes this spring; doing so can save you time & money when the temperatures start to climb again in the Lowcountry.

1. Not Scheduling A Maintenance Appointment

Even if you’ve occasionally had to flip on the A/C at some point before our warmer spring temperatures come in full force, we all know the kind of brutal operating conditions our air conditioners experience when those temperatures max out throughout the year.

Knowing this, it’s always important to have an experienced, local HVAC company near you do a thorough maintenance inspection to ensure your system works at its best during our peak warm temperature seasons.

Your HVAC contractor will inspect all components, both mechanical and electrical, and let you know if anything might need replacing. This is key for preventing major breakdowns, which you don’t want to happen when you need it most — spring & summer.

2. Not Signing Up For An Annual Maintenance Plan

While you’ve got your HVAC technician already in your home for the preventative maintenance, you should ask them about signing up for an annual maintenance plan.

With many HVAC companies, signing up for plan means you’ll not only get two annual maintenance inspections (one in the spring and one before winter), but also reduced pricing for replacement parts and labor, priority scheduling for service appointments (in case of a breakdown) and other perks when it comes to maintaining your system.

3. Delaying Air Conditioning Replacement Plans

There could be many reasons to delay getting an A/C replacement, but if you can, avoid doing so this spring.

When summertime hits, Lowcountry HVAC companies tend to be more booked up than normal, so you may end up waiting longer than you’d like to have your system replaced. Springtime is also a busy time of year, but odds are better you’ll be able to get a faster turnaround for a replacement project.

4. Not Searching For The Right Local HVAC Company

If you haven’t contacted an HVAC company for maintenance or replacement yet, be sure to do your due diligence to make sure you’re getting the right HVAC company for your Lowcountry home.

Whether you search online or offline, look for a consistent record of good online reviews and remember to ask your friends, neighbors and colleagues to see which company they’re using.

We hope you stay comfortable the rest of this winter, and if you avoid the above listed HVAC pitfalls we know you’ll have a pleasant spring this year as well.

Continue Reading

Why Winter Is The Best Time To Replace Your Air Conditioner In Charleston

December 16th, 2019

With the holiday season almost upon us, we’re sure your thoughts this time of year are focused on family, gifts, get-togethers and other holiday activities that happen this time of year in Charleston.

While you’re putting together your list of things to do this winter it may be a great time for you to add “replace air conditioning” to that list.

This may not seem like the typical thing to put on your holiday agenda, but here are three reasons why it could – and should – be high on your list in 2019 or early in the New Year.

A Chance To Reassess Your Whole HVAC System (And Potentially Save Money)

Depending on what kind of HVAC system setup you have, whether that be a heat pump system, a traditional central air conditioning system and standalone furnace, mini-split A/C or heat pumps, or something different entirely, winter is a great time to do a complete system assessment.

This assessment could lead to new opportunities for your home in Charleston and potentially save you money on your electric bills for years to come.

Special A/C Replacement Offers & Promotions

After you’ve done your HVAC assessment (or have an HVAC company near you do it), there’s a good chance you’ll be able to take advantage of special deals, offers or other HVAC promotions that often come around this time of year.

Holiday deals and specials are very often made available by local HVAC companies to help encourage homeowners to upgrade older, out-of-date systems that may not last much longer. The deals and promotions are a great way for them to see how a new, more efficient system can lower their electricity spending and reap other benefits as well.

Cooler Days Mean Lower Replacement Time Stress (And Sweat)

Finally, replacing your system this time of year means you won’t be sweating while your HVAC team replaces your system.

During the brutal summers in the Lowcountry, HVAC contractors are very often booked solid. This means you may have a some long, hot days while your replacement day comes up on their schedule.

Instead of bearing with those hot days, have your system replaced when temperatures are more reasonable and don’t require your air conditioning to stay comfortable.

We hope that your holiday season plans go well this year in the Lowcountry, and if you add a quick HVAC system replacement to those plans we know you’ll be more than happy throughout the process.

Continue Reading

Install A Heat Pump Or Install A Furnace: Which One Is Right For Your Charleston Home?

November 15th, 2019

With a bit cooler air breezing into Charleston this week, it’s right about time you may be assessing the heating capabilities & needs of your homes’ HVAC system.

Hopefully as you start using your heat setting again, you don’t have any issues — something you probably don’t worry about if you have a comprehensive HVAC maintenance plan.

If you do run into issues, however, you’ll probably be having to make the decision to repair or replace your heating system. Read our post about knowing when to repair or replace your system here if you aren’t sure which one you’ll need for your Charleston home (the post is focused on air conditioning systems, but the same rules apply for your heating system).

Should you go the route of replacing your heating system, you may be presented with yet another question: install a new heat pump unit or install a new furnace?

Generally speaking, most homeowners simply choose to go with whatever kind of unit or setup that was in place previously. This definitely makes sense as the rest of the components of your HVAC system will already be setup for that type of heating source.

Having to replace your heating unit, however, gives you a great chance to look at a few alternative options regardless of which kind of system you are replacing. It may also provide an opportunity for a entirely different setup altogether — more on that below.

To help you review your heating replacement options below is a quick rundown comparing heat pumps versus furnaces, which one may work better in your home and another type of heat source you may not know about.

The Difference Between A Heat Pump vs Furnace

While there are several differences between a heat pump and a furnace, at the core of their differences is the source of their heat production.

As you probably know, a furnace produces heat by running electricity through metal coils or by burning a type of fuel. Your furnace most likely uses gas or electricity if you’re here in Charleston, but other types of fuels used in furnaces include oil, wood and wood pellets.

A heat pump on the other hand doesn’t burn or consume anything to produce heat. As its name implies, it “pumps” heat from one location to another. So in the winter, your heat pump pulls ambient heat from the outside air and transfers it into your home. We go into more detail about how a heat pump works in this post if you want to learn more about its operation.

Obviously, if it gets too cold outside a heat pump will struggle with keeping your home warm while a well maintained furnace will provide consistent heat no matter how cold it gets outside. This shouldn’t turn you off of heat pumps however as the climate in Charleston is such that it rarely — if ever — gets cold enough to limit a heat pump’s heating capacity. Not only that, heat pumps can provide more than just heating operation as we’ll review below.

One-Way vs Two-Way Operation

The other important difference in system types are their usage throughout the year. While a furnace will most likely sit idle during the summer, a heat pump can reverse its operation to also function as your home’s air conditioning system.

Just as in the winter a heat pump will transfer heat from the outside into your home, it can transfer heat and humidity inside your home to the outdoor air.

This two-way operation is part of the reason most Charleston homeowners go with heat pump systems. Having one system to install and maintain simplifies repairs and can lower maintenance costs in some cases. When the primary need for an HVAC system is air conditioning and smaller windows where there’s need for heating, you can see why heat pumps are the obvious choice for homeowners.

If there are Lowcountry winters where the temperatures dip below a heat pump’s viable operation, though, you’ll be happy about having installed a furnace if you choose that as your next heating solution.

Go A Different Direction

“What other options are there other than traditional heat pump or furnace heating systems?”, you may be saying to yourself. The answer to that question lies beneath the ground.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems have been gaining more and more traction as an alternative heating (and cooling) solution here in the Charleston area, and with some of the tax incentives that come with an installation, are becoming much more affordable for homeowners.

Geothermal systems take advantage of the ground’s natural ability to retain a constant temperature; generally between 55 & 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So even while the outside air temperature fluctuates throughout the year, this underground temperature stays roughly the same. The system taps into that warmer energy and transfers it into your home, exactly how the traditional heat pump takes the warmth from the air and uses it to warm your home.

The source of energy a geothermal heat pump (the technical term for a geothermal unit) draws from, however, is much more reliable because of that constant underground temperature mentioned.

This source of energy is also free and virtually infinite. This means the energy you consume to keep your home warm (or cool) is also essentially free & infinite, driving down monthly electricity bills as much as 70% in some cases. So over time, you’ll be able to recoup your HVAC investment; something that takes much longer than conventional systems.

By installing a geothermal HVAC system, you’ll also save on replacement costs: a traditional system will last about 12-15 years, while a geothermal system (the indoor unit) will last up to 25 years. The underground geothermal equipment can last up to 100. (That’s not a typo by the way, the underground components are really are engineered to last 100 years.)

When In Doubt, Ask A Pro

If you’re still unsure on which direction to go with for your next heating system, you can always contact a heating company near you and let them take a look at your particular situation. An experienced HVAC tech should be able to quickly tell you what’s best, what you can and can’t do, and give you a free estimate for your replacement heating system.

We hope you stay warm this winter whichever choice you make for your next heater, and feel free to contact us if you have any more questions about your HVAC system.

Continue Reading