Furnace and Heating Repair Services in Dallas

Dallas winters are short, but a cold snap with no heat is miserable and can be dangerous. Call (469) 409-3818 for furnace and heating repair in Dallas.

Call (469) 409-3818

Describe the problem and ask about availability.

When you know what might be wrong, it is easier to explain on the phone. Below are common furnace and heating problems, the warning signs to watch for and what a typical repair visit looks like.

While you wait for service, leave gas and electrical parts alone. Do not try to relight a pilot, remove furnace panels or reset a breaker that keeps tripping. Those checks belong with a technician.

Furnace, heat pump or electric heat?

It helps to know what kind of heat you have, because the likely problems differ.

Gas furnace

Burns natural gas to warm the air, then a blower pushes it through the ducts. Problems often involve ignition, the gas supply, the flame or venting.

Electric furnace

Uses electric heating elements instead of a flame. There is no gas, but the wiring and controls carry a heavy load and still need a professional.

Heat pump

An electric system that uses the outdoor unit for cooling in summer and heating in winter. A heat pump problem can affect comfort in both seasons.

Not sure which you have? Mention whether a gas line runs to the indoor unit, or whether the outdoor unit runs in winter.

Common furnace and heating problems

Poor airflow

Clogged filters, blocked return vents or duct problems reduce airflow, comfort and efficiency, and raise energy costs.

Carbon monoxide concerns

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can leak from a cracked heat exchanger or a damaged flue pipe. Working CO alarms and a yearly safety inspection help protect your household.

Uneven heating

Cold rooms next to warm ones usually come from duct problems or a system that is out of balance.

Yellow burner flame

A healthy gas flame is mostly blue. A yellow or orange flame can mean poor combustion and should be inspected.

Blower runs all the time

This can be a thermostat setting or a control problem. It adds wear and drives up energy use.

Thermostat problems

When the thermostat and the furnace are not communicating properly, temperature control becomes unreliable.

When the furnace blows cold air or will not start

A furnace that blows cold air may have a burner that is not lighting, a safety switch that has shut the burners off or a thermostat problem. A dirty filter can make a furnace overheat and shut itself off. A furnace that will not start at all may have a thermostat, power, ignition or gas supply problem.

A few safe checks before you call:

• Set the thermostat to heat and above the room temperature.
• If the fan is set to ON instead of AUTO, the blower can run with no heat. Try AUTO.
• Check the filter and replace it if it is clogged.
• Replace the thermostat batteries if it uses them.

If none of that helps, stop there and call.

Short cycling

Short cycling means the furnace starts, runs a few minutes and shuts off, again and again. It wastes energy and wears out parts. Possible causes include a clogged filter that lets the furnace overheat, a thermostat fault or poor thermostat location, a dirty sensor or a system that is too large for the house. A technician can narrow it down by watching the system start, run and shut off.

Heat pump heating problems

A heat pump that blows cool air in heat mode, runs all the time without warming the house, or has an outdoor unit that stops running needs a look. The same outdoor unit also cools in summer, so if the cooling side gave you trouble last year, mention that too. The air conditioning repair page covers the summer side.

Heating in a Dallas winter

The National Weather Service describes Dallas/Fort Worth winters as generally mild but variable, with cold fronts that bring brief spells of colder weather. A heating system can sit idle through a mild stretch and then be asked to run hard overnight. A problem that went unnoticed often shows up on that first cold night. A fall check gives time to fix small problems first. The maintenance page explains how spring cooling checks and fall heating checks fit together.

Signs your heating system needs repair

Catching heating problems early can prevent more damage and keep repair costs down. Call if you notice:

• Heating bills rising with no clear reason
• An older furnace that needs repairs more and more often
• Rust or cracks on the furnace cabinet or vent pipe
• A yellow or flickering burner flame
• Cold spots in some rooms
• Strange smells that last past the first few minutes of the season
• The furnace turning on and off every few minutes
• Banging, whistling or grinding sounds
• A thermostat setting that does not match the room temperature
• Water collecting around the furnace

What a technician typically checks

For a gas furnace, the ENERGY STAR maintenance checklist includes gas connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger, along with electrical connections, controls and the starting cycle. A dirty burner or a cracked heat exchanger can make a furnace run less safely. Checklists vary, so ask what a visit covers.

What a typical heating repair visit looks like

1. The call. Describe the problem and when it started, and ask about availability.
2. Diagnosis. The technician checks the heating system to find what is wrong, including problems that are not obvious yet.
3. Explanation and price. You should get a clear, itemized price before any work begins.
4. The repair. Once you approve the work, the needed repairs are made.
5. Testing. The system is run and checked for proper operation, including burners and venting on gas furnaces.
6. Advice. Ask what maintenance will help prevent the same problem and extend the life of the system.

Cost and the repair or replace question

The price of a heating repair depends on the type of system, the part that failed, whether it is on hand and how long the work takes. Ask whether there is a charge to diagnose the problem, and get the price before work begins.

There is no set age for replacing a furnace or heat pump. Weigh the repair cost against replacement, how often the system has needed work, the condition of major parts such as the heat exchanger and whether it keeps the house comfortable. Ask the technician to explain both options clearly before you decide.