Furnace & Heating Repair for Palo Alto’s cold mornings
Palo Alto winters are mild, but a 38°F morning in a house with no heat is no fun. We repair gas furnaces, heat pumps and wall furnaces, and we check combustion safety every time.
Call 650-460-3483438 Cambridge Ave, 94306
Furnace repair in Palo Alto covers gas furnaces, heat pumps in heating mode, and older wall and floor furnaces. Common causes of no heat are a dirty flame sensor, a failed igniter, a tripped limit switch from a clogged filter, or a blocked condensate line on high-efficiency units. ComfortFlow checks for carbon monoxide and cracked heat exchangers on every heating call.
Signs your heating needs attention
- The furnace starts, runs a minute, then shuts off
- Air from the vents is lukewarm or cold
- A burning, electrical or rotten-egg smell (for gas, leave the house and call PG&E or CPAU gas emergency first)
- New rattling, booming or squealing sounds
- The CO alarm has sounded, even once
- Heating bills jumped without a change in use
What we check on a heating repair
- Thermostat call, wiring and power to the unit
- Filter, blower motor and blower wheel
- Igniter, flame sensor and burner flame pattern
- Limit switches, pressure switch and inducer motor
- Heat exchanger condition and flue draft
- Carbon monoxide levels at the appliance and in the living space
- Condensate drain and trap on high-efficiency furnaces
Gas furnaces in Palo Alto homes
Many Palo Alto homes still have gas furnaces in attics, closets, crawlspaces or garages. The oldest are 20 to 30 years old, and some original wall and floor furnaces in pre-war homes are older still. We repair what makes sense to repair. When a heat exchanger is cracked or the repair is a large share of a new system’s cost, we’ll show you what a heat pump replacement would cost after the City of Palo Alto Utilities rebate.
Heat pumps in heating mode
A heat pump that isn’t heating could be stuck in defrost, low on refrigerant, or set up with thermostat settings that call for backup heat too often. Many “my heat pump doesn’t work” calls are fixed with configuration changes and a good airflow check.
Radiant and hydronic systems
Eichler radiant floors and hydronic baseboard systems use a boiler or water heater instead of a furnace. If yours is cold, see our radiant heating service page.
Furnace & Heating Repair, step by step
- Safety firstCO and gas checks before anything else.
- DiagnoseIgnition, airflow and controls tested in sequence.
- OptionsRepair cost up front. Replacement context only if it helps.
- VerifyFull heating cycle and temperature rise confirmed.
Often paired with furnace & heating repair
Furnace & Heating Repair across Palo Alto and nearby
We’re based at 438 Cambridge Ave and work in every Palo Alto neighborhood. Local notes for each area:
New to us? Start with our overview of HVAC in Palo Alto.
Furnace & Heating Repair questions,
answered.
Straight answers before you book.
Why does my furnace turn on and then shut off?
The most common cause is a dirty flame sensor that can’t prove the flame. A clogged filter tripping the high-limit switch is a close second. Both are quick fixes.
Is it safe to run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger?
No. A cracked heat exchanger can leak carbon monoxide into your air. We’ll shut the unit down and tag it if we find one, and walk you through repair or replacement options.
Should I repair or replace an old furnace?
If the furnace is over 15 years old and needs a major part like a heat exchanger or inducer, replacement with a heat pump is often the better value in Palo Alto because of the CPAU rebate.
Who provides gas in Palo Alto?
City of Palo Alto Utilities provides gas, electric and water service within the city. For gas emergencies, leave the home and call CPAU’s emergency line.
Do you fix wall furnaces?
Yes, including older wall and floor furnaces common in pre-war Palo Alto homes. Many of these are good candidates for replacement with a ductless heat pump.
Let’s make home
feel better.
Tell us what’s happening with your heating or cooling, and we’ll start with the right questions.