The one thing that matters most
A gas furnace burns fuel inside a metal heat exchanger and blows house air across the outside of it. If that metal cracks, combustion gases including carbon monoxide can mix into the air you breathe. You cannot see it and you cannot smell it. Every heating check we do includes inspecting the heat exchanger and testing for carbon monoxide at the registers. If we find a crack, we shut the furnace down and tell you why. It is the one call we will not soften.
What else gets checked
Gas pressure and burner flame quality, the ignitor and flame sensor (the two most common winter no-heat failures), the blower motor and capacitor, the flue for blockages or disconnections, the filter, the thermostat, and the safety switches. On heat pumps we also verify the defrost cycle and the backup heat strips, because a heat pump with dead strips will not keep up on a 10°F night.
Carbon monoxide detectors
Every home with gas heat, a gas water heater, or an attached garage should have a CO detector on each level and near bedrooms. Replace them every five to seven years; the sensors wear out even if the test button still beeps. If one goes off, get everyone outside first and call from there.
Ice storms and power outages
Central Oklahoma loses power in ice storms often enough that it is worth planning for. Never run a generator in a garage or near a window. Never use a gas oven or a grill for heat. If your furnace will not restart when power returns, check the breaker and the furnace switch (it looks like a light switch on or near the unit), then call us. No-heat calls with kids, elderly family, or medical needs go to the front of the line.
Need a hand with this?
Call or text (405) 615-2707. Same day on most calls around Washington, Purcell, and Norman.