Heating FAQ

Yes — Polk County sees cold fronts every winter that can drop temperatures into the 30s and 40s for days at a time. While it's not like up north, a functioning heating system is essential for comfort and safety, especially for older residents and young children. Heat pumps (which double as your AC) are the standard for Florida homes and need the same maintenance attention as the cooling mode.

Heat pumps are overwhelmingly the best choice for Florida homes. Because our winters are mild, a heat pump provides efficient heating down to about 35–40°F (where backup electric strips take over) and doubles as your air conditioner all summer. Gas furnaces are less common but are used in some homes. Top Notch Air Conditioning & Heating installs and recommends Carrier heat pump systems for the best all-around efficiency and performance in our climate.

A few common causes: the system may be in defrost cycle (normal for about 10–15 minutes), the reversing valve may be stuck or failing, refrigerant charge may be low, or the auxiliary heat strips may not be functioning properly. If your home is not reaching the set temperature on cold nights, call Top Notch Air Conditioning & Heating for a heating diagnostic — this is a common and generally fixable issue.

Our heating tune-up checks the reversing valve operation, tests auxiliary heat strips for proper operation and amperage draw, inspects and cleans the blower assembly, tests electrical connections and contactor, verifies refrigerant charge and heat pump operation in heating mode, checks defrost board function, and tests the thermostat's heating mode calibration. Yeti Club members receive this as part of their annual fall visit at no extra charge.

A brief burning dust smell when you first run the heater after a long period of disuse is normal and will dissipate within an hour or so. A persistent burning smell, especially one that smells like plastic or electrical, is not normal and you should turn off the system and call us immediately. Burning electrical smells can indicate wiring issues, a failing heat strip, or a motor problem that could become a fire hazard.

Emergency heat mode bypasses your heat pump's outdoor unit and runs only the backup electric resistance strips, which is significantly less efficient — it costs 2–3 times more to run. Use it only if your outdoor heat pump unit has failed and you're waiting for a repair. In normal operation, your heat pump handles heating most efficiently and the backup strips activate automatically when outdoor temperatures drop too low for the heat pump to keep up.

Common heat pump repairs include reversing valve replacement ($400–$900 installed), capacitor replacement ($150–$300), contactor replacement ($150–$250), defrost board replacement ($250–$500), and refrigerant services ($200–$500). Top Notch Air Conditioning & Heating provides upfront pricing before any repairs begin, and Yeti Club members receive discounts on all repair parts and labor.

Consider replacement when your heat pump is over 12–14 years old and requires a significant repair. Also consider replacement if your electric bills have been creeping up (older units lose efficiency), if you're getting frequent repairs, or if the system can no longer maintain comfortable temperatures. A new high-efficiency Carrier heat pump can reduce heating and cooling costs by 20–40% compared to a 15-year-old system.