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Heating Guides
30 guidesAustin winters are mostly mild, with a few hard freezes mixed in, and that pattern shapes which heating systems work best here. These guides explain heat pumps, electric heat strips, gas furnaces and dual fuel, plus what your thermostat is telling you when the weather turns cold.
Start with Aux Heat vs. Emergency Heat, then compare systems in Heat Pump vs. Gas Furnace vs. Dual Fuel in Central Texas and read Can a Heat Pump Keep Up With a Texas Freeze? before the next cold snap.
To learn more about the heating equipment common in Central Texas homes, see our heating services page.
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HeatingWhat Is a Heat Pump’s Balance Point, and Why Does It Matter in Central Texas?A heat pump's balance point is the outdoor temperature where its heat output just matches the heat your house loses. Above it, the heat…
HeatingWhy Does My Heat Pump Run Nonstop When It’s Below Freezing?A heat pump runs nonstop in freezing weather because the colder it gets, the less heat it can pull from outdoor air, while your…
HeatingShould You Run Ceiling Fans in Winter, and Which Direction?Yes. In winter, run a ceiling fan on low, turning clockwise as you look up at it. That gentle updraft pushes warm air from…
HeatingWhy Is There Water Around My Furnace in Winter?Water around a furnace in winter usually comes from a high-efficiency furnace, which makes water (condensate) and drains it through a trap and line…
HeatingAre Space Heaters Safe to Use Alongside Central Heat?Yes, if you follow the CPSC's basics: keep an electric space heater at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug it straight…
HeatingHow Long Should a Furnace or Heat Pump Run Per Cycle in Winter?There's no single right number. Many thermostats aim for about three heating cycles an hour, so each run lasts longer as it gets colder:…
HeatingPre-Winter HVAC Checklist for Central Texas HomesIn Austin, get your heater ready in early to mid October: change the filter, test-run the heat, clear the outdoor unit, test smoke and…
HeatingWhy Does the Thermostat Say Heat Is On but Nothing Happens?When the thermostat says Heat is on but nothing happens, the system is often just waiting: many thermostats pause a few minutes before starting,…
HeatingWhy Does My Furnace Turn On and Then Shut Off After a Few Seconds?A gas furnace that lights and shuts off within seconds usually can't confirm its flame, and the most common cause is a dirty flame…
HeatingWhy Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?A furnace that blows cold air usually has a simple cause: the thermostat fan is set to ON, the furnace is in its first…
HeatingWhere Should CO Detectors Go in a Home With a Gas Furnace?Put a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area, as CPSC and NFPA recommend. With a gas…
HeatingCan an Air Conditioner Produce Carbon Monoxide?No. A central air conditioner or heat pump runs on electricity and burns no fuel, so it cannot make carbon monoxide. CO comes from…
