Furnace Repair and Service

What Fails on a Furnace and Why

Furnace failures fall into a fairly predictable set of patterns, and most can be diagnosed in a single visit. We work on gas and oil forced air furnaces of every age, from a unit that will not fire at all to one that runs constantly and still cannot hold a comfortable temperature.

A no-heat call in cold weather is treated as an emergency. We carry the parts that fail most often, including igniters, flame sensors, capacitors and control boards, so one visit is usually enough to get a furnace running again.

A technician checks the thermostat call, gas or oil supply, ignition sequence, and safety switches in order, since furnaces shut themselves down the moment any one check fails. A single loose wire can look like a much bigger problem than it is.

Common Furnace Symptoms We Get Called For

These are the complaints that make up most of our furnace service calls, and each one narrows down where the problem likely is before a technician even opens the cabinet.

• Furnace clicks but never lights
• Lights briefly then shuts off again
• Blower runs constantly but air feels cool
• Loud humming, rattling or banging from the unit
• Thermostat set correctly but house stays cold
• Furnace shuts off on its own repeatedly

Blower Motors and Heat Exchangers

A blower motor that hums but will not spin, runs loudly, or trips its overload is usually worn bearings or a failing capacitor, and we test both before replacing anything. A dead blower can cause the furnace to overheat internally and shut down on a safety limit, which feels like total failure even though only one part quit.

Rattling or banging noises often come from a loose blower wheel, a failing bearing, or panels vibrating loose over time.

Tune-Ups and Replacement Timing

An annual tune-up catches most furnace problems before they become a no-heat emergency, including cleaning the burner and flame sensor, testing the blower and safety controls, and inspecting the heat exchanger and venting.

Once a furnace is well past its expected service life, needs a heat exchanger, or is generating repeated repair calls, replacement usually costs less over time than continuing to patch it. We give you both numbers, the cost to repair now against the likely cost of ownership over the next few years, so the choice is yours.

What Affects Furnace Repair Cost

Price depends mostly on which part failed and how accessible the furnace is. A flame sensor cleaning or igniter swap is a quick, low-cost fix, while a blower motor, control board or heat exchanger replacement costs considerably more in both parts and labor.

Furnace age also factors in, since parts for older discontinued models take longer to source than current models.

Frequently Asked Questions