The Central Valley can experience difficult conditions during the winter that people outside of California wouldn’t expect. We get an average of 14 nights per winter when the temperature drops below freezing. You definitely need to be prepared for that. More importantly, your heater needs to be prepared for that, whether it’s a furnace, heat pump, or another type of system.

Don’t put off necessary repairs—one of those freezing nights will come along and you’ll find yourself shivering in the cold with a busted system. We have three signs you should pay attention to which often indicate a need for repairs. For top-quality repair service, look to the Fresno, CA heating repair professionals at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning.

3 common indications you should call for heating repair:

1. Odd smells coming from the vents: Most Fresno homes use a forced-air distribution system to provide warmth, such as a furnace or a heat pump. Under normal operation, you shouldn’t detect any strong odors in the air coming from the vents. But if you notice something strange, like a musty or dusty smell, then you likely have problems with your heater’s ducts. They may have developed breaks, and this will reduce the heater’s ability to reach its target temperature, forcing it to work harder.

2. Loud, jarring noises: If you notice grinding and humming sounds from the heater’s cabinet that you normally don’t hear, you may need repairs done. A few sounds, such as clicking at start-up when the heater hasn’t been used for a while, aren’t much to worry about. But other sounds, like shrieking (possibly worn down motor bearings) or clacking (loose parts or a dented fan belt), should be inspected professionally.

3. Spikes in heating bills: Often, your heater may run fine, but internally has faults in its mechanisms force it to work harder than necessary. You can see this in your power bills: if you notice a sudden surge in costs that you can’t explain, it’s time to get the heater looked at for possible malfunctions.

Although skilled heating technicians can fix most problems with your heater, you can prevent many repair needs if you sign up for a preventive maintenance program. An annual visit from a maintenance specialist will reduce your heater’s repair needs and give the system a longer lifespan.

Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning has served Fresno, CA heating repair needs since 1952. We will send out NATE-certified technicians to your home to fix the troubles with your heater, so you know you will be in skilled hands.

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People who live outside of California don’t often associate our state with snow or frigid weather (unless they’re thinking about ski resorts). But in the Central Valley, the temperature can dip to unpleasant lows during late fall and winter. In Fresno, CA, heating repair is something you need to consider during the coming months. Whatever kind of heater you have, no matter how durable or well-maintained, it will at some point need the attention of an HVAC repair specialist. Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning has served the Central Valley with heating repair services for over six decades, so when you need assistance with a malfunctioning heater, contact us right away.

Here are a few issues you might encounter with different heating systems that require professional attention:

Heat pumps: Heat pumps are a popular option in Fresno, CA because they can handle our mild winters and offer great cooling during the summers. Since heat pumps operate in the same way as an air conditioner, they can suffer from similar problems. Common repairs that technicians perform on heat pumps are replacing fan belts and compressors, cleaning the heating and condensing coils, and sealing leaks and replacing the refrigerant.

Furnaces: Many older homes have a furnace already installed, usually one that runs on gas or propane, while newer homes may have an electric furnace. Furnaces often require cleaning and unclogging of their air filters, a problem that can threaten to damage the internal mechanisms and will reduce air flow. Furnaces sometimes need repairs to their motors and fan belts. Electric furnaces have multiple heating elements that can break down and require replacement, while gas furnaces can develop leaks or blockages along their gas lines that need professional attention to seal them.

Thermostats: This applies to most systems, since you need a thermostat to communicate with your heater. Thermostats can develop electrical trouble which impedes their ability to control temperature. A faulty thermostat is often the cause behind uneven or insufficient heating, and sometimes can cause the heater to not turn on at all. Common thermostat repairs involve fixing their wiring or upgrading the unit entirely.

Although there are simple steps you can take to solve some of your heating problems—like regularly changing the filters of your furnace or heat pump—most repair needs won’t be diagnosed accurately or done properly unless you bring in an experienced heating repair technician in Fresno. If you start to experience heater malfunctions, call on the Fresno, CA heating repair professionals at Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning to get it working for you again.

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