Why Your Heater Isn’t Keeping Up in the New Orleans Area (And What You Can Do Today)

Why Your Heater Isn’t Keeping Up in the New Orleans Area (And What You Can Do Today)

Every winter in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, and the Northshore, the first real cold snap exposes all the hidden issues inside a heating system. Because Louisiana barely uses heat most of the year, homeowners in Gretna, Harvey, Harahan, River Ridge, Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington often discover their heater isn’t keeping up — or worse, blowing cold air.

If your home feels chilly even with the heat running, here’s exactly what causes it and what you can do before scheduling a service call.

1. Your Heater Hasn’t Been Run Since Last Winter

Homes across the Southshore and Northshore barely use heat. Systems sit idle for 8–10 months, especially in older shotgun homes in New Orleans or raised homes near Lake Pontchartrain, where humidity settles inside equipment.

During that downtime:

• Dust settles on heat strips

• Coils collect dirt

• Motors stiffen

• Electrical components weaken

Try This First:

Turn the thermostat OFF → HEAT → raise temperature 3–5 degrees and give it 10–15 minutes.If the air doesn’t warm, your system needs a tune-up.

ver Ridge, Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, and surrounding areas.

2. Heat Pumps Struggle in Louisiana’s Cold, Damp Weather

Residents in Slidell, Mandeville, Kenner, and River Ridge often call us about heat pumps running nonstop but never warming up. That’s because heat pumps naturally lose efficiency in damp cold snaps — especially near the lake or in shaded yards.

Heat pumps may:

• Blow cool or lukewarm air

• Go into defrost mode

• Produce frost on the outdoor unit

• Run constantly

When This Is NOT Normal:

• Frost never melts

• Air never gets warm

• Loud whooshing or grinding sounds

• Breaker trips often

3. Dirty Filters Are Choking the System

High humidity + pets + older ductwork = dust overload. Homes in Harvey, Gretna, Metairie, and Madisonville often experience airflow issues simply because the filter is clogged.

A dirty filter reduces airflow by up to 50%, making the heater feel weak or ineffective.

When to Replace:

• 1-inch filters: every 30 days

• 4–5-inch filters: every 60–90 days

• Homes near water: change more often (humidity + dust)

 4. Weak or Failing Heat Strips

If your home uses electric heat (most in Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany), the heat strips do the heavy lifting.

When heat strips weaken, the system may:

• Blow lukewarm air

• Heat extremely slowly

• Run nonstop without reaching temp

• Cause high electric bills

This is one of the top winter repairs we perform in New Orleans, Kenner, and Slidell.

5. Air Leaks in Older Homes

Older homes — especially New Orleans shotguns, Gentilly cottages, Uptown doubles, and older Northshore ranch-style homes — are notorious for losing heat due to:

• Leaky windows

• Poor attic insulation

• Gaps in flooring on raised homes

• Ductwork leaks

No matter how strong your heater is, if warm air escapes, it can’t keep up.

When to Call Keeping It Cool Heating & Air

If your system is:

• Blowing cold air

• Struggling to reach temperature

• Running nonstop

• Making noises

• Producing burning smells

• Showing frost outside

It’s time for a professional diagnostic.

📞 Call Keeping It Cool Heating & Air at (504) 762-0331

We serve New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harvey, Harahan, River Ridge, Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, and surrounding areas.