Heating Repair in Carrollwood, FL

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates for 2019 to 2023 count how each occupied home in the Carrollwood census designated place is heated:

• About 13,789 homes heat with electricity.
• About 267 homes heat with utility gas.
• About 33 homes heat with bottled, tank or LP gas.
• About 64 homes use no heating fuel at all.

That is out of roughly 14,248 occupied homes. So most Carrollwood homes heat with electricity.

Heat pump or heat strips?

A heat pump heats by moving heat from the outside air into the house. A Department of Energy guide says air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside air and pump it into the house in the colder months. Heat strips are electric resistance elements inside the indoor air handler. Carrier says auxiliary heat typically uses electric resistance heating strips.

See our guides on how to tell if you have a heat pump and furnace vs electric strip heat.

The same Census survey estimates when Carrollwood's roughly 14,952 housing units were built:

• 1960 to 1969: about 1,832 homes.
• 1970 to 1979: about 2,970 homes.
• 1980 to 1989: about 6,158 homes, the largest group.
• 1990 to 1999: about 2,365 homes.
• 2000 or later: about 1,146 homes in all.

ENERGY STAR lists tightening electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors as part of a contractor's annual check-up. It says faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of a system and reduce the life of major components.

These figures are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Tampa International Airport, which lies south of Carrollwood. They describe the regional climate, not readings taken in Carrollwood.

• Nights at or below 40°F: about 7 or 8 a year on average.
• Nights at or below 50°F: about 43 a year.
• The coldest month: January averages the most nights at or below 40°F, ahead of December and February.
• Summer: June through September record no heating degree days at all.

Why the heat gets so little use

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center describes a degree day as an index that reflects the energy needed to heat or cool homes and businesses. The airport normals show about 434 heating degree days a year against about 3,928 cooling degree days. In plain words, this climate asks far more of the cooling side than the heating side.

Heat strips and heating controls can go unused for months, then get called on the first cold night. Tampa Electric notes that a cold snap can raise a bill even when the thermostat stays the same, because the system has to run longer.

These need no tools and no open panels. Stop at anything that feels unsafe.

1. The air filter. ENERGY STAR says to inspect, clean or change the filter once a month in a heat pump, furnace or central air conditioner. It says a dirty filter can damage equipment and lead to early failure. See our guide to HVAC air filters.
2. Thermostat settings. Set the mode to Heat and the setpoint above the room temperature. Tampa Electric suggests setting the fan to Auto. On a heat pump, it suggests raising the temperature two degrees at a time so the heat strips do not come on. Our guide to thermostat settings has more.
3. Vents, returns and the outdoor unit. Move furniture, rugs and boxes off supply vents and return grilles. Outside, pull leaves and yard debris away from a heat pump by hand. The Department of Energy guide also says not to cover a heat pump in winter, because it needs airflow to pick up heat.

If a breaker has tripped

Leave it off. Call a licensed contractor to find the cause before the system runs again.

These are possible causes named in the sources below. Only a diagnosis confirms which one applies.

The air feels warm, not hot

On a heat pump this can be normal. The Department of Energy guide says heat pumps provide a consistent, gentle airflow of warm air and work best when running continuously. It says fuel-fired systems deliver hotter air for shorter periods. If the house never reaches the setpoint, though, the same guide lists that as a sign to call a professional.

Frost on the outdoor unit, or steam

The guide says frost forms when the outdoor coils drop below 32°F. The heat pump then runs a defrost cycle that briefly switches it to cooling to melt the ice. It says defrost typically takes 5 to 15 minutes. A unit stuck in defrost or covered in ice needs an HVAC professional. More in our guide to heat pump defrost mode.

AUX shows on the thermostat

AUX means the heat strips are helping. The Department of Energy guide calls that mode costly and inefficient and says frequent use should be checked. Carrier says AUX running above 40°F may point to a dirty filter or a refrigerant leak. Change the filter first. If AUX stays on, call. See auxiliary heat.

The unit cycles on and off, or smells

The Department of Energy guide lists frequent cycling, a unit not running at all, excessive noise, strange smells and frozen coils as signs that need a qualified HVAC professional.

Carrier describes Emergency Heat as a manual setting that you must physically switch on at the thermostat. Carrier says to switch to Emergency Heat only if your heat pump has physically broken down or malfunctioned. It runs only the backup heat, usually electric resistance.

Have the heat pump diagnosed by a licensed contractor rather than relying on Emergency Heat. Our emergency heat guide has the details.

A few hundred Carrollwood homes heat with utility gas or bottled gas, by the Census estimates above. A gas furnace adds combustion and venting to the picture. ENERGY STAR says a technician should check gas connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger. It says improperly operating gas connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says to install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms, or alarms with battery backup, on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. It lists headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness and confusion as symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you suspect it, the agency says to get outside to fresh air immediately and then call 911.

Do not relight, open or adjust a gas furnace yourself. Gas, burner and venting work belongs to a licensed contractor. See our guide to carbon monoxide detector placement.

A portable heater can carry one room through a night. Use it with care. The U.S. Fire Administration says heating fires were the second leading cause of home fires in 2021.

• Clearance. The Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources.
• Attention. It says to turn space heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Tip-over switch. Tampa Electric suggests checking that the heater has an automatic switch that cuts the power if it tips over.
• Cords. Tampa Electric also says not to use light-duty extension cords with a space heater.

The Department of Energy heat pump guide lists work a qualified technician does, and ENERGY STAR adds the electrical checks:

• Refrigerant: that the heat pump is properly charged, and whether there is a leak.
• Airflow: that adequate airflow is being achieved.
• Coils: the condition of the indoor and outdoor coils.
• Electrical: the terminals and connections, with voltage and current measured on motors.
• Controls: the thermostat settings, and that backup heat comes on only when it should.

Refrigerant work is done by EPA Section 608 certified technicians, the federal refrigerant-handling credential. Blume is brand-agnostic and services all major manufacturers' equipment. You get a written, upfront price before any work starts.

Carrollwood is unincorporated, and Hillsborough County's Development Services department provides permitting and building inspection services for all of unincorporated Hillsborough County. The county says most construction in Hillsborough County requires approval and permits. Its permit resources refer to projects requiring only a mechanical permit, including ones that involve the repair or replacement of an existing heating or air-conditioning system.

The county tells homeowners to make sure a contractor holds a valid license and is insured to work in Hillsborough County. It says a hired contractor will obtain the necessary permits. Our HVAC permit guide explains more.

One failed part is a repair. The Department of Energy guide notes that a heat pump also works in reverse to cool the house. If the diagnosis finds a larger failure on older equipment, Blume shows the repair and the replacement side by side. We do not sell equipment a home does not need.

If replacement is the answer, the new system is sized with an ACCA Manual J load calculation and selected with Manual S, not matched to the old nameplate. Financing is available through Synchrony Bank. For the wider picture, see our Carrollwood HVAC page or heat pump repair in Tampa.

Blume Mechanical Service, LLC is a Class A licensed Florida air conditioning contractor (license CAC-1822618) and is fully insured. Our office is at 2840 West Bay Drive #114, Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770. Our core service area is Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

What to have ready when you call

• Whether the outdoor unit runs when the thermostat is set to Heat.
• Whether the thermostat shows AUX or has an Emergency Heat setting.
• Whether the home heats with electricity or gas, if you know.
• Whether a breaker has tripped.
• Any smell, noise or frost you noticed.
• When the heat last worked.