Ready for the Next Cold Front.
A cold-weather guide for Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and the rest of Baldwin County — what to check before the first freeze, what's normal when it arrives, and who to call when the heat won't come on.
Mild Winters, Real Cold Fronts.
Baldwin County, Alabama runs one of the mildest winter climates in the South — most years see a handful of freezing nights and maybe one extended cold snap. That's the problem: heat pumps and gas furnaces sit mostly idle from May through October, and when a real Gulf cold front rolls through in December or January, equipment that worked fine last year sometimes refuses to start. Reversing valves stick, auxiliary heat strips don't engage, gas furnace igniters fail, and thermostats short-cycle. The calls come in waves the night a hard freeze hits.
Most of that is avoidable with a few minutes of checking on a mild day and a tune-up before the season. The rest is what our heating repair crew handles across all of Baldwin County — licensed Alabama HVAC contractor (AL#23194), one number, one local crew.
Where to Go From Here.
- Furnace & heater repairGas and electric furnaces, air handlers, heat strips, and manufactured-home heating.
- Heat pump repairNo heat, lukewarm air, stuck in Aux Heat, or an outdoor unit that won't defrost.
- Heating installationWhen repair no longer makes sense — replacements sized with a Manual J load calculation.
- Fall heat pump tune-upThe inspection checklist for testing the heating side before it's needed.
Near our Daphne shop, each community has its own heating page: heating repair in Daphne, Spanish Fort heating repair, and Fairhope heating repair.
Before and During a Freeze.
What to do on a mild afternoon before the first cold front, and what's normal once it arrives. None of it needs tools.
- Before the first cold front: a fresh filter, the thermostat set to Heat, and a short test run on a mild afternoon
- Clear leaves and pine straw from a couple of feet around the outdoor unit — a heat pump needs airflow to heat
- Know where the heat pump and air handler breakers are, and reset a tripped one only once
- Hold a steady temperature through a freeze instead of a deep overnight setback
- Expect long run times, Aux Heat on cold mornings, and occasional steam during defrost — all normal
- Never cover a running heat pump with a tarp, and never chip ice off the outdoor coil
- Gas smell or carbon monoxide alarm: get everyone outside, then call 911 or your gas utility
- Still no heat after those checks: call (251) 300-9817 — the phone is how to reach us after hours
Test the Heat Before the Cold Front Does.
A heat pump that has run in cooling mode since spring hasn't used its reversing valve, backup heat strips, or defrost controls in months. A fall tune-up runs the system in heating mode and checks those parts while it's still mild out — so a weak component shows up on a warm afternoon, not the first night it drops toward freezing.
Cool Club members get
- Two seasonal tune-ups a year — spring for cooling, fall for heating
- 15% off AC repairs
- 5% off new systems
- Priority scheduling
- Automatic seasonal reminders, so the fall tune-up doesn't slip
Get on the Schedule Before the Next Cold Snap.
If your heat is currently out, call (251) 300-9817 — our 24/7 line is answered live when we can and returned quickly when we can't. Otherwise, send the details and pick a time window. We confirm by phone during weekday office hours (8 AM-4 PM).
Need someone right now? Call (251) 300-9817 — our 24/7 emergency line is answered live when we can and returned quickly when we can't.
Winter Heating Questions
How do I get my heating ready before the first cold front?
Put in a fresh air filter, switch the thermostat to Heat on a mild afternoon and let it run for a few minutes to confirm warm air comes out, and clear leaves and pine straw from a couple of feet around the outdoor unit. That short test on a warm day is the best time to find a problem — not the first night it drops toward freezing. A fall heating tune-up goes further: it checks the reversing valve, heat strips, defrost controls, and electrical connections before you need them.What should I do when a hard freeze is in the forecast?
Let the system do its job. Hold a steady temperature instead of setting it way back overnight — a big morning recovery on a freezing day leans hard on the heat strips. Keep the outdoor unit clear and never cover a heat pump with a tarp while it's in use; it needs airflow to heat. If you lose heat during the freeze, call (251) 300-9817 — our 24/7 line is answered live when we can and returned quickly when we can't.Do I need a fall tune-up if my heat worked fine last winter?
Fall is the best time for one. A heat pump that has run in cooling mode since spring hasn't used its reversing valve, heat strips, or defrost controls in months, and a Gulf Coast summer is hard on capacitors and electrical connections. A tune-up tests the heating side while it's still mild, so a weak part shows up on a warm afternoon instead of a cold night. Cool Club membership includes two seasonal tune-ups a year, spring and fall.Should I repair or replace an old heating system in the middle of winter?
It depends on the system's age, which part failed, and its repair history. We give you a written estimate for the repair before any work starts. If the system is near the end of its service life, we'll say so plainly and can quote a replacement sized with a Manual J load calculation, so you can decide with both options in front of you rather than under pressure on a cold night.
Schedule Heating Service in Baldwin County.
Same-day heating repair appointments most weekdays. 24/7 emergency line for cold-snap nights and weekends. (251) 300-9817 — answered live when we can, returned quickly when we can't.