Keep Your Raleigh Home Out Of A Deep Freeze
North Carolina winters might be milder than up north, but we still need reliable heat to stay comfortable, and we've been keeping Raleigh homes warm since 2005. Whether your furnace breaks down on the coldest night of the year, you're looking to replace an aging heating system with something more efficient, or you just want to make sure your current system is ready for winter, Dawson's Electric & Air is here to help.
If your heat isn't working right or you need maintenance before winter arrives, give us a call at 919-887-8284 or reach out online.
Heating FAQs
This is common during extreme cold, especially with heat pump systems. In many cases, the system is running but not producing enough heat due to issues like malfunctioning heat strips, low refrigerant levels, or improper system setup. These problems require professional diagnosis to identify the root cause and restore proper heating.
Early warning signs include difficulty maintaining your set temperature and higher-than-normal energy bills. During maintenance visits, we may find low refrigerant levels, compressors pulling high electrical amps, motors leaking oil, or leaking coils. Catching these issues early can prevent a full system breakdown.
The most common calls we respond to are complete no-heat situations or systems that can’t keep up during extreme cold. Heat pumps are especially affected during colder stretches and often have multiple contributing factors that need expert diagnosis rather than guesswork.
Typically, a heater will trip the breaker due to either the heat strips grounded or the compressor is bad. We diagnose the situation by checking the resistance on the heat strips and the compressor.
A heat pump is simply an air conditioner that reverses the refrigerant flow to heat the indoor coil, which transfers heat into the home. Heat pumps also use heat strips as auxiliary or backup heat. A furnace uses a type of fuel, mostly gas, to heat the home.
Emergency heat should only be used when your heat pump cannot keep up. It costs more to run and is meant as a backup, not for regular use. If your system is working properly, emergency heat is usually not needed.
Home Heating Services Near You in the Triangle
We handle all your heating needs to keep your home warm and comfortable throughout the winter. Here's what we provide:
Furnace Repair
When your furnace stops working or isn't heating properly, Dawson's diagnose the problem and fix it fast so you're not left in the cold. We repair all makes and models, handling everything from ignition problems and blower motor failures to cracked heat exchangers and thermostat issues. Our priority is getting your heat back on quickly and safely.
Furance Installation
Installing a new furnace or heating system is a major decision, and we make sure you get the right equipment for your home and budget. We'll help you choose between gas furnaces, heat pumps, or other heating options, then install your new system properly so it heats efficiently and lasts for years to come.
Furnace Maintenance
Annual heating maintenance keeps your system running safely and efficiently, prevents unexpected breakdowns, and extends the life of your equipment. We inspect and clean burners, check gas connections, test safety controls, replace filters, and make sure everything is working correctly before you need it most.
Heat Pumps
Stay perfectly comfortable through humid Triangle summers and chilly winters with one efficient, all-season solution. Dawson’s licensed, NATE-certified heat pump professionals bring years of hands-on experience helping homeowners select, install, and maintain dependable heat pump systems. With expert guidance and reliable service, you can enjoy consistent year-round comfort while getting the most from your heat pump system.
If you have need of any of these services to help keep your home warm, call us at 919-887-8284 today!
What's The Difference Between A Furnace & A Heat Pump?
Both furnaces and heat pumps can keep your home warm, but they work completely differently, and each has advantages depending on your situation. Here's how they compare:
- Furnaces Generate Heat By Burning Fuel: Gas furnaces create heat by burning natural gas or propane in a combustion chamber, then distribute that heated air throughout your home via ductwork. Electric furnaces use heating elements similar to a giant space heater. Furnaces provide powerful, reliable heat even on the coldest days.
- Heat Pumps Move Heat Instead Of Creating It: Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the outside air (yes, even cold air contains heat) and transferring it inside your home. In summer, they reverse the process to provide air conditioning. This dual functionality makes them efficient year-round climate control systems.
- Efficiency Differences Matter: Heat pumps are generally more energy-efficient than furnaces because moving heat requires less energy than creating it through combustion. However, heat pump efficiency drops when outdoor temperatures fall below freezing, which is when furnaces excel at providing consistent, powerful heat.
- Climate Affects Performance: In Raleigh's relatively mild winters, heat pumps work efficiently most of the time and provide both heating and cooling in one system. Areas with prolonged periods of very cold weather benefit more from furnaces, which maintain heating capacity regardless of outdoor temperature.
- Cost Considerations Vary: Gas furnaces typically cost less to operate than electric heat pumps when natural gas prices are low, but heat pumps can save money in mild weather and eliminate the need for a separate air conditioning system. Installation costs, available fuel sources, and local utility rates all affect the best choice for your home.
What Does AFUE Rating Mean For Furnaces?
AFUE rating tells you how efficiently a furnace converts fuel into heat, and understanding it helps you make informed decisions about heating costs. Here's what you need to know:
- AFUE Stands For Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency: This rating measures what percentage of fuel actually becomes heat for your home versus what gets lost through the exhaust. For example, a 95% AFUE furnace converts 95% of its fuel into heat, with only 5% wasted through the venting system.
- Higher Numbers Mean Lower Fuel Bills: A furnace with 80% AFUE wastes 20 cents of every dollar spent on fuel, while a 95% AFUE furnace wastes only 5 cents. Over a heating season, this difference adds up to significant savings on your gas or propane bills, especially in homes with high heating demands.
- Minimum Standards Have Increased: Modern furnaces must meet minimum AFUE requirements, with most new furnaces rating between 80% and 98% AFUE. Older furnaces from the 1970s and 1980s often operated at only 60-70% AFUE, which is why replacing them saves so much on energy costs.
- High-Efficiency Furnaces Cost More Upfront: Furnaces with AFUE ratings above 90% cost more to purchase and install because they use condensing technology and require special venting. However, the fuel savings over the furnace's 15-20 year lifespan often justify the higher initial investment, especially in colder climates.
- Your Home's Needs Affect The Best Choice: For homes with moderate heating needs in mild climates like Raleigh, an 80-85% AFUE furnace may provide the best value. Homes with high heating bills or in colder areas benefit more from 90-98% AFUE models that maximize fuel savings year after year.
Make Sure Your Home Stays Warm & Toasty
Since 2005, we've been the heating company Raleigh families trust to keep them warm when it matters most. From emergency furnace repairs in the middle of winter to new heating system installations that lower your energy bills, to annual maintenance that prevents problems before they start, we handle it all with the honest approach we're known for.
Don't wait until you're freezing to find out your heat isn't working. Give us a call at 919-887-8284 or reach out online to schedule your home heating service.
Serving Raleigh, Fuquay Varina, Angier, NC Heating and Air Company and Wake County!
