Heat pump or furnace? That is the first thing that matters when the heat quits in San Luis Obispo, CA, because the two fail in completely different ways. Heat pumps tend to freeze up when defrost stops working, get stuck in cooling when a reversing valve fails, or quietly lean on the electric backup strips, at several times the normal operating cost, when the outdoor unit dies. Gas furnaces typically come down to the flame sensor: once oxide coats it, the burners light but the flame cannot be proven, so the board cuts the gas and locks out after three tries. After that, the usual suspects are cracked hot surface igniters, stuck pressure switches, clogged condensate traps on high-efficiency models, and blower motors at the end of their life.
Most of our service calls are for Furnace Repair. If something has stopped working, start there.
Warning Signs for Heating Repair
The sooner you notice these red flags, the easier and cheaper the fix. Keep an eye out for the following clues:
- Some rooms warm while others stay stubbornly cold
- Cold air, or no air at all, when the thermostat calls for heat
- Banging at startup caused by burners lighting late
- Strange smells from the vents, especially rotten egg or burning
- An outdoor heat pump coil that stays iced over
- Short cycling every few minutes while the house stays cold
- Clicking and failed ignition attempts before the furnace gives up
- Energy costs climbing even though the house feels colder
Early Action Saves Money
Left unchecked, even a small fault or temperature swing often signals a system working its way toward a breakdown. Don't wait, call (805) 209-1561 and we'll take a look right away.
