Heater & Furnace Repair in Northridge, CA

Furnace repair in Northridge: ranch homes, many setups

Furnace repair in Northridge rarely looks the same twice. Most of the area is 1950s and 60s single story ranch homes, and their heating has changed over the years. Some still have the original closet or garage furnace. Some had central heat and air added later, with ducts in a shallow attic or across the roof. Others use a rooftop package unit that heats and cools. And because many homes were repaired or rebuilt after the 1994 earthquake, two houses on the same street can have completely different equipment.

What fails on Northridge heating systems

• Ignition failures after summer. A dirty flame sensor or a cracked igniter. The most common first cold morning call.
• Rooftop package unit will not heat. Sun and dust wear out burners, inducers and igniters on roof units. See package units.
• Roof ducts losing heat. Ducts in direct weather lose a lot of heat through torn insulation and open seams. The furnace runs fine, but the rooms stay cold.
• Closet furnace overheating. Small returns and dirty filters trip the limit switch. See furnace short cycling.
• Old flue connections. On older natural draft furnaces we check the vent from the furnace to the roof for gaps and rust.

Floor and wall heaters

Some Northridge ranch homes still have an original floor furnace or a gas wall heater, often in a room the central system never reached. We repair them and check venting and carbon monoxide every time. See wall and floor heaters.

Furnace replacement in Northridge: when it makes sense

Replacing a part is the right call most of the time. Furnace replacement in Northridge makes sense when the heat exchanger is cracked, the furnace is 20 years or older and needs a major part, or the AC is on R-22 and failing at the same time. Many owners then choose a heat pump for heating and cooling in one system. Northridge is in the City of Los Angeles, so a replacement is permitted through LADBS, and we pull the permit. You get written prices for repair and replacement so you can compare. See furnace installation and furnace repair.

Carbon monoxide: what to do

If your CO alarm goes off, do not look for the cause. Get everyone out of the house, call 911, then call SoCalGas. Call us once the fire department or the gas company says it is safe to go back in. Every heater repair we do includes a carbon monoxide test and a look at the flue and gas connections.

Safe checks before you call

1. Thermostat set to Heat, a few degrees above room temperature, with fresh batteries if it has them.
2. Look at the filter. If it is gray and packed, replace it.
3. Check the breaker and the service switch next to the furnace (it looks like a light switch).
4. Make sure the furnace door or panel is closed tight. Most furnaces will not run with it loose.
5. If you have a rooftop unit, stay off the roof. Tell us if you hear the fan start and whether any air comes from the vents.

No heat in Northridge? Call (323) 240-2373, 24/7, or book online and use code WEB25 for $25 off (see coupons). Same-day service in most cases. WY&G is a licensed HVAC contractor, CSLB C-20 #1044922, with over 25 years in the field. More about our work in Northridge AC and heating repair.