The Most Common Furnace/Heating Emergencies And What They Cost

When your heat suddenly goes out in the middle of winter it can be considered an emergency, especially in an ice-cold place like Cleveland. Without heat, your home will become uninhabitable quickly and you’re likely to have issues with freezing pipes. Luckily, many of the most common Cleveland heating emergencies aren’t as hard or as expensive to fix as you might imagine.

Broken Thermostat

When your heat turns off suddenly, the first thing you should do is check the thermostat. It’s possible that it’s just out of batteries, in which case, you can solve the emergency yourself for about $5 worth of AA or AAA batteries.  Look for a battery icon on the display — check your owner’s manual if you aren’t sure what’s appearing on the display.

If changing the batteries doesn’t work, a HVAC technician may need to install a new thermostat.  Today there are many options when it comes to  thermostats- from basic to programmable to thermostats that adapt automatically to your lifestyle.  As a result, the cost of a new thermostat varies greatly.

Ignition Problems

The ignitor is the part of the furnace that actually starts the fire when the thermostat instructs the furnace to kick on. Since ignitors experience a lot of temperature fluctuations, they’re often one of the first parts to wear out. A new ignitor typically costs under $100 and a HVAC technician can install it within a few hours, usually bringing your total cost to under $300.

Blocked Intake Valve

The intake valve sucks in air for the furnace to heat. Sometimes it gets blocked by ice, dust or debris. Usually this just requires cleaning out the valve, which shouldn’t take a HVAC technician long and cost around $100 as long as the debris hasn’t been sucked inside.

Broken Blower Motor

The blower unit is the part of the furnace that propels the newly warmed air into your home. Its motor can sometimes fail. This isn’t a cheap repair and may cost around $500 or more.  Very high tech, energy efficient motors can cost more than $1000 in some cases.  Depending on the furnace’s age, a HVAC technician may recommend replacing the furnace.

If your furnace is still under warranty, these repairs are usually covered. For all of your Cleveland heating emergencies, contact P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling.