Trane Heat Pump Repair and Replacement in Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC

The Coastal Air Plus Answer: You can’t stop the ocean, but you can keep it off your equipment. If you live within 5 miles of the beach, salt is literally "pitting" your metal coils. Use a garden hose on low pressure to rinse the outdoor unit every 2–4 weeks. 

If you’re shopping for a new unit, ask us about "Seacoast Protection" or epoxy-coated coils—it’s the only way to make a system last more than 5 years in the Myrtle Beach environment.

Emergency heat bypasses the heat pump entirely and runs on the electric backup strips alone. It is meant for one situation: the heat pump itself has failed. It costs considerably more to run than normal heating, so it is a bridge until a technician gets there, not a winter setting. If you are reaching for it regularly, something is wrong with the system.

Yes. Manufacturing of new R-410A systems ended January 1, 2025, but existing systems can still be serviced and recharged with R-410A. The EPA also lifted the installation deadline that would have blocked remaining R-410A inventory. What is changing is cost: R-410A gets more expensive as supply shrinks, which matters if your system leaks repeatedly.

In Myrtle Beach and Charleston, absolutely. Unlike the North, our systems don't have an "off-season." In the Spring, we’re cleaning out the thick yellow pine pollen that chokes your airflow. 

In the Fall, we’re checking the defrost board because our damp, 30°F nights will freeze a neglected unit into a block of ice. Skipping service here usually leads to a $500 emergency call in the middle of a July heatwave.

You’re likely falling into the "SC Thermostat Trap." When you nudge the temp up by more than 2 degrees at once, the system thinks it’s an emergency and kicks on the electric heat strips. These use a massive amount of power and spike your bill. 

To save money, stop "adjusting" the temp. Pick a comfortable number, lock it in, and let your heat pump work slow and steady without triggering the expensive backup.

In the winter, a heat pump works like a heater, extracting heat energy from the outside and transferring it inside. In the summer, the process reverses, removing heat from your home and transferring it outside like an air conditioner. Heat pumps do this so well that many people in warmer climates exclusively rely on them for year-round comfort. Those living in colder climates use electric-powered heat pumps with their gas or oil furnaces, resulting in lower heating costs.

They work with coils drawing energy from air, water, or the ground. In this way, they are environmentally friendly and the most energy-efficient way to heat and cool your home. Heat pumps also work exceptionally efficiently because they simply transfer heat rather than burn fuel to create it. This efficiency makes heat pumps a greener alternative to traditional gas or oil furnaces. Though you may be unfamiliar with them, they traditionally heat swimming pools and hot tubs, so you most likely have come in contact with them and not even know it.

Usually dust. The electric backup heat strips sit unused all summer and collect a film of it, and the first time they energize in the fall that film burns off. The smell should fade within an hour or two of running and should not return. What is not normal is a sharp plastic or electrical odor, a burning smell that persists past the first day, or any smell alongside a breaker that trips. Shut the system off and call rather than waiting that one out.

Schedule an annual duct cleaning to avoid dust buildup and accumulation.

That’s "Dirty Sock Syndrome," and it’s a huge problem in our 90% humidity. It’s caused by bacteria growing on your indoor coils because they never fully dry out in the Lowcountry air. Don't just spray Febreze; you need a professional coil cleaning. 

To keep the funk away permanently, we recommend a UV-C germicidal light installation to zap the bacteria before the smell starts.

There are three types of heat pumps: 

• air-to-air, 
• water source, and 
• geothermal. 

As mentioned above, they collect their heat from the air, water, and outside your home and concentrate it for use. 

Call Coastal Air Plus to discuss the basic differences between these types and which one would work best for you and your home.

The Coastal Air Plus Answer: Your drain line is likely clogged with "Lowcountry Algae." The high humidity creates a constant flow of water that turns household dust into a thick, snot-like slime. 

The DIY Fix: Find the PVC access point near your indoor unit and pour 1 cup of white vinegar down it once a month. It dissolves the slime before it can back up and ruin your ceiling. If it’s already leaking, give us a call to clear the line safely.

In most coastal South Carolina homes, no. Standard air source heat pumps hold full heating capacity down to roughly 35 to 40 degrees, and below that the electric backup heat strips in the air handler carry the load. That threshold is rarely crossed here for long. A gas furnace paired with a heat pump, called a dual fuel system, makes sense mainly where gas service already exists and winter bills justify it. We break the comparison down in heat pump vs furnace in South Carolina.

Heat pump installation costs are higher than with a traditional furnace or air conditioner. Still, the savings over time in annual energy costs

• Heat pump installation costs make up for the difference in five to ten years. Performing proper operation and maintenance of your heat pump will also save you money, as you’ll use less energy, thus resulting in less cost. 
• Ask your HVAC professional for the proper thermostat setting and the indoor pump’s fan operation. Not following the recommended guidelines can inhibit the maximized running of the pump and can degrade the unit itself. 
• Regular maintenance can prevent degradation as well. Consistent filter changing or cleaning is necessary for a well-running heat pump. 
• Seasonal cleaning of coils and fans goes a long way in preventing poor energy efficiency that can end up costing you more money. The energy difference between a well-maintained system and a neglected one can be pump's maximized running and 10 to 25 percent.

To determine the appropriate type of heat pump for you (which can depend upon the geography and climate around your Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach, Conway, Charleston, SC, or surrounding home or office space) or to discuss your options, call us today or request service online for an evaluation.

If you are replacing electric resistance heat, the difference is substantial. The Department of Energy puts the reduction in heating electricity at roughly 50 percent versus electric furnaces and baseboard heat. If you are replacing a working heat pump from 2012 with a new high-efficiency one, the savings are real but more modest, and the honest answer is that it depends on your usage and your rate.

• ENERGY STAR is program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to reduce the nation's energy consumption.
• ENERGY STAR® -qualified heating equipment can be up to 15 percent more efficient than standard models. ENERGY STAR® -qualified cooling equipment can be up to 7 percent more efficient than minimum-standard equipment.