Furnace repair
Furnace repair in Spokane, Washington
Most furnace failures come down to a handful of parts. Here is what tends to go wrong, what you can safely check, and what a repair visit involves.
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What usually stops a gas furnace
A modern gas furnace runs a fixed sequence every time the thermostat calls. The draft motor starts, a pressure switch proves the vent is clear, an igniter heats up, the gas valve opens, and a flame sensor confirms the burners lit. If any step fails, the control board shuts things down and often flashes a code.
The parts that fail most often in that chain:
- Igniter. Hot surface igniters crack with age and stop glowing.
- Flame sensor. A coated rod cannot prove flame, so the burners light and drop out a few seconds later.
- Pressure switch or draft motor. A blocked vent, a frozen drain or a worn motor stops ignition before it starts.
- Blower motor or capacitor. The burners heat up but no air moves, and a limit switch shuts the burners off.
- Control board. Less common, but a failed board can mimic almost any other fault.
- Gas valve. Rare, and always work for a qualified technician.
Checks worth making before you call
None of these involve opening the burner compartment. If any step makes you uneasy, skip it.
- Thermostat on heat, set a few degrees above room temperature, with fresh batteries if it uses them.
- The furnace switch (it looks like a light switch, near the unit) is on, and the breaker has not tripped.
- The filter is not packed with dust. A blocked filter can make the furnace overheat and shut itself off.
- The front panel is fully seated. Many furnaces will not run with the door switch open.
- On a furnace with white plastic vent pipes, the outside ends are not buried in snow or capped with ice.
If the furnace still will not run, note any flashing light pattern on the board and have it ready. The no-heat guide walks through the blower-runs-cold case in more depth.
What happens on a repair visit
A typical visit starts with the complaint and the control board's fault history. The technician then watches a full heating cycle, measures voltages and checks gas pressure and the temperature rise across the furnace.
Expect a plain explanation of the failed part and a choice: repair now, or talk about replacement if the furnace has bigger problems. A cracked heat exchanger or a venting problem is a safety finding, not a sales pitch, and a technician may shut the unit off and tag it until it is fixed.
Ask the contractor to write down what was replaced and why. That record helps the next time someone works on the unit.
What changes the cost of a repair
Contractors set their own prices, so this site cannot quote one. These are the things that move the number:
- the part itself, and whether it is a generic part or one made only for that brand
- how hard the furnace is to reach, especially in a tight closet or crawl space
- whether the fault is clear or takes time to trace
- the age of the furnace and whether parts are still made for it
Common questions
Is it safe to keep resetting a furnace that keeps shutting off?
A reset or two to see what happens is common, but repeated lockouts mean something is failing. Several safety switches trip for good reasons, including overheating and a blocked vent. Stop resetting it and call.
Can I run space heaters until the repair?
Many people do. Keep them clear of anything that can burn, plug them straight into a wall outlet, and never use a gas oven or an outdoor heater to warm the house.
Who should I call if I smell gas?
Not a repair contractor first. Avista says to leave the area, avoid sparks, and call 911 and then Avista at (800) 227-9187 from a safe distance.
Where these facts come from
Cold house in Spokane? Talk to a contractor now.
Dial the number and explain what the heat or cooling is doing. The person who picks up runs an independent HVAC business working in Spokane and the towns nearby.