Furnace & Heating Repair in Tempe

Fuel type and configuration. Many Phoenix homes heat with a gas furnace inside a split system or a rooftop gas/electric package unit; others use electric heat strips in an air handler or a heat pump. Diagnosis and parts differ for each, so tell your tech which you have if you know.

Which component failed. Ignition parts, flame sensors, and switches are inexpensive. Inducer motors, blower motors, and gas valves are mid-range. A cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue and usually means replacement.

Access. Rooftop package units and attic furnaces take longer to service than a garage-mounted unit, especially when a part has to be ordered.

Because heating runs so few hours here, a furnace often outlasts the air conditioner it's paired with. A 15-year-old furnace with a simple igniter failure is worth repairing. A 20-year-old furnace with a heat exchanger problem is not.

If your AC is also aging, consider the whole system. Replacing the furnace or air handler at the same time as the outdoor unit is cheaper than doing them separately, and a heat pump can replace both in one piece of equipment.

Safety first: if a tech finds a cracked heat exchanger, they will shut the furnace down. That's the correct call because carbon monoxide risk is real. Ask for photos and a second opinion if the diagnosis feels premature.

The first week of cold weather is furnace season in Phoenix. Calls spike, and a system that hasn't run since March may have a dust-fouled flame sensor, a burned-out igniter, or a dead thermostat battery. Try the simple stuff first: fresh thermostat batteries, a new filter, and the furnace switch turned on.

A burning-dust smell on first startup is normal for a few minutes. A gas smell, repeated clicking without ignition, or the unit cycling on and off every few minutes is not. Turn it off and request service.

Most furnace repairs are done in one visit with parts on the truck. Book your fall tune-up in October to catch these issues before the cold morning arrives.