The first cold snap of the year is the busiest heating day we have. The phones start ringing the moment temperatures drop in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach and Palm Coast.
“Every winter, the very first call we get is ‘I smell something burning.’ And when someone tells us the heat isn’t working, we generally find it’s the setup or the thermostat, not a broken system.”
Jason Healy, Operations Manager
Here’s the same checklist our customer service team walks callers through, so you can rule out the simple stuff in a few minutes.
Is it normal? Quick reference
| What you notice | Normal? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dusty burning smell the first time you turn on the heat | Yes | Let it run. It fades in a few minutes. |
| Burning plastic smell, or debris from the vents | No | Turn the system off and call. |
| Steam or “smoke” from the outdoor unit, with a whooshing sound | Yes | That’s the defrost cycle. It stops in about 30 seconds. |
| Heat feels slow compared to a furnace | Yes | Wait 15–20 minutes and look for a one-degree rise. |
| Heat pump’s outdoor unit won’t run | No | Switch to Emergency Heat and call. |
| Emergency heat shows and you didn’t set it | No | Call. It’s often a stuck reversing valve. |
| Air is only lukewarm | Maybe | Give it time. If it stays lukewarm, call. |
First, know how your Florida home heats
Most homes here don’t have a furnace. They heat one of two ways:
- Heat pump with backup heat strips. The outdoor unit pulls heat from the outside air and moves it indoors. Electric heat strips in the indoor unit kick in when you need extra heat, or take over if the outdoor unit stops.
- Air conditioner with heat strips only. The outdoor unit only cools. All your heat comes from the strips inside. This is the standard setup in beachside condos, where salt air is hard on heat pump parts.
Not sure which you have? Turn the heat on. If the outdoor unit runs, it’s a heat pump. If it stays off, you have an AC with heat strips.
Heat pumps are designed to work down to about 32°F, and some newer models to about 20°F. On colder nights they lean on the heat strips, and that’s normal.
“If the outdoor unit shuts down for whatever reason, say a compressor fails, you still have your heat strips inside to give you heat. We size those to the home, so you’re not left in the cold.”
Jason Healy
Make sure the thermostat is actually on Heat
It sounds obvious, but it’s the most common cause of a “no heat” call. Newer thermostats have Auto modes, schedules and sensors that can override what you expect.
- Switch the mode to Heat, not Cool or Fan.
- Check that a schedule isn’t overriding your setting.
- Confirm the display shows heating is on.
“Thermostats are the biggest misconception we see with homeowners. We’ve moved away from the simple on-off thermostat to ones with sensors everywhere and automatic features that can switch from heat to cool on their own.”
Jason Healy
Raise the temperature about 3 degrees
Set the thermostat about 3 degrees above the current room temperature. That’s enough to start heating without firing the heat strips, which draw a lot of power.
“If you want your home warmer quicker, jump the thermostat about 5 degrees. That kicks the heat strips on with the heat pump. It won’t heat like a furnace, but it’ll get there faster. Once you’re within 3 degrees of your set point, the strips shut off and the heat pump takes over.”
Jason Healy
Give it 15 to 20 minutes
Snowbirds will notice this one most. A gas furnace up north blasts hot air almost instantly. A heat pump warms your home gradually.
“We get a lot of snowbirds who are used to furnaces up north, and a furnace gives you instant heat. If you haven’t experienced a heat pump, it’s night and day. Nothing’s wrong. A heat pump simply warms your home gradually, and it doesn’t take long.”
Jason Healy
After 15 to 20 minutes, look at the thermostat. If the room has warmed by even one degree, the system is working. Keep monitoring for another 15 to 20 minutes.
How our team handles this call: A homeowner calls to say the heat is on but they don’t feel much. We ask what the thermostat is set to and how long ago they turned it on. “About 15 minutes ago, and it’s gone from 68 to 69.” That one degree tells us the system is working. We ask them to keep an eye on it for another 15 to 20 minutes and call us back if it hasn’t reached the set temperature.
Notice what the smell is telling you
A dusty, burning smell the first time you turn on the heat is normal. Dust settles on the heat strips over the months they sit unused, and it burns off in the first few minutes.
“That’s our very first 911 call from every customer. We train our team to ask the right questions and calm the customer down, because it’s nothing to be too concerned about. We’ve even had people call because they didn’t smell it and wanted to know if their heat strips were working.”
Jason Healy
Turn the system off and call us if you smell burning plastic, the smell doesn’t fade, or you see debris coming out of the vents.
Look at the outdoor unit
If you have a heat pump, the outdoor unit should be running in heat mode.
On cold, damp days, you may hear a whooshing sound and see what looks like smoke rising from the top of the unit. That’s the defrost cycle melting ice off the outdoor coil. It lasts about 30 seconds, and the steam is harmless.
“We’ll get calls saying, ‘My outdoor unit is on fire, there’s smoke coming out of the top.’ All that is, is the ice melting off. It’s vapor going up into the air, and after about 30 seconds everything goes back to normal.”
Jason Healy
If the outdoor unit won’t run at all, go to check 6.
Look for “Emergency Heat” on your thermostat
If the outdoor unit isn’t running, try switching your thermostat to Emergency Heat. That runs the heat strips on their own. If the house starts warming within 15 minutes, your backup heat is doing its job and you’re safe and warm for the night.
If your thermostat shows emergency heat when you didn’t select it, or the heat strips seem to run constantly, the heat pump has a problem. A common cause after a long cooling season is a reversing valve that sticks when the system switches to heat.
“In Florida, a lot of people rarely run their heat pump in heat. After sitting in cooling mode all summer, that spring-loaded valve sometimes sticks when it switches over. Sometimes it’s an easy fix and we can tap it and break it loose. Other times we put in for a warranty replacement part.”
Jason Healy
When to call right away
- You smell burning plastic, or debris is coming from the vents
- The temperature hasn’t risen after two 15–20 minute checks
- Your heat pump’s outdoor unit won’t run
- The heat is on but only lukewarm. On many systems that points to a failed heat strip sequencer, which controls how much of the strip turns on.
- Emergency heat shows on the thermostat and you didn’t set it
What happens when you call Total Comfort
Our customer service team will ask a few questions about your system and walk you through these same checks. If your heat strips are keeping the house warm, you can choose a visit that evening or a daytime appointment the next day.
“At night it’s harder to really dive in when you’re working in the dark. If your heat strips are keeping you warm, a daytime visit lets us do a deeper diagnosis.”
Jason Healy
“We rotate a team of on-call technicians and keep them in different areas, on standby and ready to go, similar to first responders. When the first cold snap hits, we know the calls are coming.”
Jason Healy
If you need a factory warranty part, our parts and warranty team files the claim first thing in the morning, and our parts runners get it to your technician as quickly as possible.
“We don’t like giving prices on something when we don’t know what it is yet. Nothing panics a customer more than hearing about a big repair that might not even be the problem. We’d rather diagnose it, explain what needs fixing, and give you a real price.”
Jason Healy
Heat still not working?
Flat $129 diagnostic. Serving Volusia County since 1976.
How to avoid winter heating calls
Routine maintenance prevents most of the problems above. Members of our HVAC maintenance plan get two visits a year, once at the start of winter and once at the start of summer, so the system is tested in heat before you need it.
“Our HVAC systems are just as important as the vehicles we drive. You maintain your car so it doesn’t leave you stranded. Your system deserves the same. And our maintenance isn’t about price, it’s about training. We don’t bait and switch.”
Jason Healy
Members also get priority service when the calls pile up. Learn more about heat pump maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my heat smell like it’s burning?
The first time you run your heat each winter, dust that collected on the electric heat strips burns off. A light dusty smell for a few minutes is normal. A burning plastic smell, a smell that won’t go away, or debris from the vents is not. Turn the system off and call a technician.
Why is smoke coming out of my outdoor unit?
It’s almost always steam from the defrost cycle. In cold, damp weather, ice forms on a heat pump’s outdoor coil. The system briefly reverses to melt it, which makes a whooshing sound and a cloud of vapor for about 30 seconds. It’s normal.
How long should it take a heat pump to warm my house?
Give it 15 to 20 minutes and look for at least a one-degree rise on the thermostat. Heat pumps warm gradually, unlike a gas furnace. Raising the setting about 5 degrees brings the backup heat strips on for faster warming.
What does emergency heat mean on my thermostat?
Emergency heat runs your electric heat strips without the heat pump. You can switch it on yourself if the outdoor unit stops working. If it turns on by itself or stays on, have the heat pump checked.
How much does it cost to have my heat checked?
Total Comfort charges a flat $129 diagnostic fee. Your technician diagnoses the problem and gives you a price before any repair begins.
What areas do you serve?
Total Comfort serves Volusia County and the surrounding area, from Edgewater north through Ormond Beach, Palm Coast and Flagler County, and west into Seminole County.
