Georgetown Furnace Issues: Different From Northern States
Georgetown's heating needs are genuine but concentrated — typically 20–30 days per year below 40°F, with occasional hard freezes in January and February. Because Georgetown furnaces sit idle for 6–8 months between heating seasons, the first cold night of fall is the peak time for failure discovery. Hot surface igniters, in particular, degrade during storage and often fail at first ignition attempt of the season.
Step 1: Check the Thermostat
First, verify your thermostat is set to HEAT (not COOL or AUTO), and the setpoint is above current room temperature. Check the battery — many thermostats display "low battery" warnings that homeowners dismiss. A dead thermostat battery stops the entire system.
Step 2: Check the Filter
A severely clogged filter restricts airflow and can cause the furnace to overheat and trigger the high-limit switch, shutting the system down. Replace the filter if it's visibly gray or compressed. Run the system again — if the filter was the issue, it may resume normal operation.
Step 3: Check the Breaker and Power Switch
Confirm the furnace breaker hasn't tripped in your main panel. Also check the furnace's local power switch (usually a wall switch near the unit that looks like a light switch). It's easy to accidentally flip this during storage or cleaning.
Step 4: Check Your Gas Supply
If your furnace is gas-fired, confirm the gas supply valve (usually a lever or ball valve on the gas line near the furnace) is open — parallel to the pipe means open, perpendicular means closed. If you smell gas, don't operate any switches or lights — leave the building and call your gas utility immediately.
Step 5: Try a System Reset
Many modern furnaces have a reset button on the control board. Turn the furnace off at the power switch, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears a high-limit fault if the filter was the issue. If the system trips again within a few minutes, there's an underlying cause that needs professional diagnosis.
When to Call ProAir Georgetown
Call us if the system doesn't start after the above steps, or if it starts and then stops within a few minutes. The most common professional repairs:
- Hot surface igniter replacement ($95–$150) — most common Georgetown heating call
- Flame sensor cleaning or replacement ($85–$130) — carbon buildup prevents flame detection
- Inducer motor failure ($200–$400) — prevents combustion air movement
- Control board replacement ($250–$450) — less common but definitive
⚠️ Carbon Monoxide Warning: If your CO detector goes off with the furnace running, turn off the furnace immediately, leave the building, and call 911. A cracked heat exchanger is the most common HVAC-related CO source. We perform heat exchanger inspections as part of every heating tune-up.
Need heating repair in Georgetown TX? Call ProAir at {PHONE_DISPLAY} — same-day service available for most Georgetown heating calls.