Heat pump or furnace? That is the first thing that matters when the heat quits in Antelope, 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 usually 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. Start there if your system isn't running right.
Warning Signs for Heating Repair
Catching these issues early helps you avoid costly problems. Here are the most common indicators that it's time to call a professional:
- Energy costs climbing even though the house feels colder
- An outdoor heat pump coil that stays iced over
- The furnace clicking and trying to light but shutting back down
- Strange smells from the vents, especially rotten egg or burning
- Short cycling every few minutes while the house stays cold
- Some rooms warm while others stay stubbornly cold
- No warm air at the registers even with the heat turned up
- Banging at startup caused by burners lighting late
Don't Wait for a Total Failure
What seems like a minor issue today can take out a compressor or heat exchanger tomorrow. At the first hint of a problem, call (279) 236-7624 for a fast inspection.
