Pinellas Park, FL · Air conditioning contractor
Heating & Heat Pump Repair in Pinellas Park
A heat pump is the most efficient way to cool and heat a Pinellas Park home. AC Pinellas Park repairs and installs heat pumps, fixes strip and emergency heat, and helps you claim Duke Energy's rebate, up to $1,000 when a heat pump replaces electric strip heat. Call (727) 761-8873.
Updated
Do you repair heat pumps and home heating?
Yes. Most Pinellas Park homes heat with either a heat pump or an air handler with electric strip heat, and we repair both. Common jobs include:
- Heat pumps blowing cool air in heat mode (reversing valve, defrost board or low refrigerant)
- Outdoor units icing over and not defrosting
- Strip heat elements, sequencers and limit switches that have failed
- Systems stuck on emergency heat (EM HEAT), which runs up the Duke bill
- Capacitors, contactors and fan motors, the same parts that fail in summer
What is emergency heat?
On a heat pump thermostat, EM HEAT shuts off the heat pump and runs only the electric strips. It's a backup for when the heat pump has failed. If yours keeps switching to it, or someone left it on, you're paying for resistance heat and should get the heat pump checked.
Why does my heat smell like burning the first cold morning?
The first time the heat runs each winter, dust that has settled on the strip heat elements burns off. A dusty, toasty smell for a few minutes is normal. A smell that lasts more than about half an hour, visible smoke, a melting-plastic or electrical smell, or a breaker that trips is not. Turn the system off at the thermostat and call us.
How it works
How does AC service with us work?
- Call or bookTell us what's happening. We confirm a visit window for your Pinellas Park address.
- DiagnoseA licensed tech finds the real cause and explains it in plain words.
- Written priceYou approve the price before any work starts. No surprises.
- Fix & testWe repair or install, test cooling and leave your home clean.
Should I install a heat pump instead of an AC with strip heat?
| AC + electric strip heat | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | Same | Same |
| How it heats | Electric resistance coils | Moves heat from outdoor air |
| Winter running cost | Highest | Much lower for the same warmth |
| Duke rebate on replacement | $300 (AC replacing AC) | $500 replacing a heat pump; $600 or $1,000 replacing strip heat |
A heat pump costs a little more upfront than a straight AC, but in our climate the Duke rebate for replacing strip heat often covers much of the difference. Heat pumps still keep backup strips for the rare cold snap.
Duke Energy rebates
How much is the Duke heat pump rebate?
Pinellas Park is served by Duke Energy Florida, not FPL, so the rebates that matter here are Duke's Home Energy Improvement rebates. These are the current amounts on Duke's own program pages:
| Project (single-family home) | Duke rebate | Minimum efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| New AC replacing an AC | $300 | 15.2 SEER2 (16 SEER) |
| Heat pump replacing a heat pump | $500 | 15.2 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 |
| Heat pump replacing electric strip heat | $600 | 15.2 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 |
| Heat pump replacing electric strip heat | $1,000 | 16 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 |
| Duct test / duct repair | up to $50 / up to $400 | Through a Duke-approved contractor |
The main rules: you need a free Duke Home Energy Check in the 24 months before the install (or within 12 months after an emergency replacement), the home must use electricity for heating and cooling, the job must be permitted and done by a licensed, insured contractor, and the condenser and air handler must be replaced together. We're a Duke Energy approved contractor, and we walk you through the Home Energy Check and the paperwork. Program terms change, so we confirm them with you before you buy. Duke's HVAC rebate page · rebate requirements.
Is a heat pump worth it with Pinellas Park's mild winters?
Yes, for most homes. Tampa averages only about 430 heating degree days a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), and heat pumps work best in exactly that kind of mild weather. You get the same summer cooling as an AC and much cheaper heat on the cool mornings between December and February. The case is strongest when you're replacing an AC with strip heat anyway, because that's where Duke's larger rebates apply.
How do I know my heat pump needs service?
- It runs constantly but the house barely warms up
- The thermostat shows AUX or EM HEAT most of the time
- Ice stays on the outdoor coil for more than an hour
- Loud bangs or grinding when it switches into or out of defrost
- Your winter Duke bill jumps without a cold snap
Heat pumps also cool, so a problem in winter usually becomes a cooling problem in spring. Catching it early saves money twice.
What should I set my heat pump to in winter?
Set it to HEAT, somewhere around 68–70°F, and leave it there rather than making big setbacks overnight. A big setback forces the system to use the backup strips to catch up in the morning, which costs much more. Only use EM HEAT if the heat pump itself has failed and you're waiting for a repair.
Do you serve every Pinellas Park zip code (33781 & 33782)?
We serve all of Pinellas Park, ZIP codes 33781 and 33782: City Hall, Park Station and the Park Blvd corridor in 33781; the Mainlands, Gateway Centre and the Skyview area in 33782; plus Bonnie Bay, the city's manufactured-home communities, and homes along US-19, 49th St N, 66th St N and Belcher Rd. See the neighbourhoods we cover.
FAQ
Pinellas Park Heating & Heat Pumps FAQs
Is a heat pump good in Florida?
Yes. Our mild winters suit heat pumps well, and they heat for far less than electric strip heat. In summer they cool exactly like an AC.
Do you repair heating?
Yes. We repair heat pump heating, electric strip heat and emergency heat, including reversing valves, defrost controls, elements and sequencers.
Why does my heat pump blow cold air?
It may be in a normal defrost cycle for a few minutes. If it lasts, a reversing valve, defrost board, thermostat setting or low refrigerant is the usual cause.
How much is the Duke rebate for a heat pump?
$500 for a heat pump replacing a heat pump, and $600 or $1,000 when a heat pump replaces electric strip heat, depending on efficiency. Duke's program conditions apply.
Related services
Need AC help in Pinellas Park?
Licensed, local, and a written price before any work starts.