Signs your heating system needs repair
- Cool air in heat mode. A heat pump that keeps blowing cool air after the first few minutes may have a failed reversing valve, a refrigerant leak or a thermostat problem.
- No heat at all. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and the breaker hasn't tripped. If it still won't run, the cause is often a failed capacitor, contactor, heat strip or control board.
- A burning smell that doesn't go away. A dusty smell for a few minutes the first time you turn the heat on is normal. A smell that lingers, or smells electrical, is not. Turn the system off and call.
- Ice that stays on the outdoor unit. Light frost on a heat pump in cold weather is normal, and the defrost cycle clears it. A unit that stays coated in ice has a defrost or airflow problem.
- "Aux" or "Emergency heat" on all the time. Backup heat strips use far more electricity than a heat pump. If they run constantly, your heat pump may not be doing its share.
- Breakers tripping. Heat strips draw a lot of power. A breaker that trips when the heat comes on points to a shorted element, a failing sequencer or a wiring fault.
Before you call, check the thermostat mode and the filter. If that doesn't fix it, don't keep running a system that smells hot or keeps tripping breakers.
Heating systems we service
- Heat pumps. The most common heating system in Palm Beach County. The same outdoor unit that cools your home in summer heats it in winter by reversing the flow of refrigerant.
- Electric furnaces and heat strips. Electric resistance heat in the air handler, used on its own or as backup heat for a heat pump.
- Furnaces. We repair, maintain and replace furnaces, including Bryant furnaces.
- Ductless mini-split heat pumps. Wall-mounted systems that heat and cool individual rooms, additions and garages.
The most common heating repairs in Palm Beach County
Because heating systems here run only a few weeks a year, the same problems come up every winter:
- Reversing valve failures. The valve that switches a heat pump between cooling and heating can stick after months in one position.
- Defrost control and sensor problems. These cause ice to build up on the outdoor coil and cut heating output.
- Burned-out heat strips and sequencers. Elements and the relays that switch them on can fail, often on the first cold night of the year.
- Thermostat setup and wiring. A thermostat set up for cooling only, or wired so backup heat runs all the time, is a frequent cause of cold homes and high bills.
- Capacitors and contactors. A heat pump uses the same electrical parts in winter as in summer, and Florida heat wears them out early.
Most of these show up during a pre-winter check of heat mode, which is part of our twice-a-year maintenance.
Heating maintenance
A heat pump is also your air conditioner, so it runs most of the year. Twice-a-year maintenance covers both cooling and heating. We recommend having heat mode checked in the fall, before the first cold front.
A heating check includes testing heat mode and defrost, checking the reversing valve, measuring heat strip and sequencer operation, inspecting electrical connections, checking the thermostat setup, and replacing or cleaning the filter.
Heating installation and replacement
Gulfstream Cooling is a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer. We install Bryant heat pumps, furnaces and air handlers, and we size every new system to your home rather than matching the old unit's size.
Replacing a heat pump replaces your cooling system too, so the same questions apply: the age of the system, the cost of the repair and how efficient the new unit is. Heat pumps are rated for cooling efficiency (SEER2) and heating efficiency (HSPF2). See AC replacement for costs, financing and how to decide.
What to expect when you call
- Call any time. A live dispatcher answers 561-855-0306 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Fast arrival. Most calls are on site within 2 to 4 hours. Homes with infants, elderly family members or medical needs get priority on cold nights.
- Diagnosis. Your technician finds the cause and explains what's wrong and what the repair will cost before starting.
- Repair and test. We make the repair and run the system in heat mode to confirm it's heating properly before we leave.
Heating safety
- If you smell burning that doesn't fade after a few minutes, turn the system off at the thermostat and call.
- If your home has any fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas furnace, water heater or range, keep working carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
- Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, and don't run them on extension cords.
Heating and AC service in your city
Local response times, neighborhoods and answers to common questions for each community we serve:
