The Peculiar Problems of Florida Furnaces
Let’s be honest – Florida residents have a rather complicated relationship with their heating systems. While our northern friends are building snowmen and salting their driveways, we’re typically debating whether to wear flip-flops or actual shoes. But those three days of winter? That’s when panic sets in.
At Refrigeration & Electrical Service, we’ve seen it all when it comes to furnace surprises in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines City. Picture this: it’s that one chilly morning when the temperature dips below 60°F (gasp!), and suddenly everyone remembers they actually own a furnace.
The Great Florida Furnace Awakening
You know you’re a Floridian when:
– You think “winterizing” means putting on socks
– Your furnace’s annual operation time can be measured in hours rather than months
– You mistake the burning dust smell from your rarely-used heating system for an actual emergency
– Your northern relatives laugh when you complain about “freezing” at 55 degrees
Our HVAC technicians in Haines City have witnessed countless amusing scenarios, like the time a customer called in a panic because their furnace was “making weird noises.” Turns out, it was just the sound of normal operation – they’d simply never heard it running before!
The Florida Furnace Survival Guide
Here’s what we recommend for those brief moments when Florida decides to pretend it’s up north:
1. Don’t wait until the cold snap to test your heating system
2. Remember that burning dust smell is normal (the first time you use it each year)
3. Keep your thermostat above “panic mode” but below “money-burning mode”
4. Consider that a sweater might be cheaper than cranking the heat to 80
In Winter Haven, we’ve noticed a peculiar phenomenon: the simultaneous use of heating in the morning and air conditioning in the afternoon. We call this the “Florida Temperature Tango,” and it’s a dance your HVAC system knows all too well.
Remember, while we may not need our furnaces as often as our northern neighbors, maintaining them is still crucial. Think of it like that emergency umbrella you keep in your car – you don’t need it often, but when you do, you’re really glad it works!
At Refrigeration & Electrical Service, we’re here to ensure your furnace works perfectly for those rare occasions when Florida remembers it’s supposed to have a winter. Because let’s face it, the only thing more surprising than cold weather in Florida is a furnace that’s not ready for it!