Last winter, your furnace may have worked fine. Tonight, it might not start, shut off after two minutes, fail to warm the house, or give off a new smell.
Most Los Angeles homeowners use heating systems only three to four months a year, so problems often go unnoticed between seasons. When the first cold night arrives, and the system fails, you need a quick, accurate repair.
Affordable Heating and Air provides furnace and heating repair throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County from our Chatsworth office. We service gas furnaces, heat pumps, dual-fuel systems, and wall heaters. Our trucks are stocked with common parts, so most repairs are completed in a single visit.
Furnace not working? Call 818-722-1332 for Los Angeles County or 805-755-4074 for Ventura County.
Diagnostic fee: $95, credited toward your repair.
Heating problems show specific symptoms. Identifying them helps us prepare before we arrive:
The system does not respond when you switch the thermostat to heat. Common causes include a tripped breaker, a blown fuse, a faulty ignitor, a failed flame sensor, a thermostat malfunction, or a safety lockout triggered by a prior fault.
Before calling, check that the thermostat is set to Heat mode and the temperature is set above the current room reading. Then check the breakers. If neither step resolves the problem, a technician is required.
Short-cycling means the furnace starts, runs briefly, then shuts off and repeats the cycle. Causes include a dirty flame sensor, a clogged filter, a failing inducer motor, or poor airflow that causes the limit switch to overheat.
This is the most common furnace repair we perform in San Fernando Valley homes.
The system runs, but the house never gets warm enough, or some rooms stay cold while others heat up.
Causes include clogged filters, duct leaks, slow blower motors, thermostat calibration issues, or, on heat pumps, a reversing valve not fully switching to heating mode.
A short dusty smell when the furnace first runs after months of inactivity is normal. But a constant burning smell, hot plastic odor, or wiring smell requires immediate attention.
If you smell natural gas, leave your home and call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside. Call us after the utility clears the area.
Every heating repair visit follows a clear diagnostic process:
After diagnosis, we explain the findings, the repair cost, and whether repair is the right choice given the system’s age and condition. Work begins only after your approval.
Homes in the San Fernando Valley have furnace repair issues that national HVAC guides do not cover:
Seasonal neglect: It can make small problems bigger. For example, a flame sensor that detected oxidation in April might not work in December. A filter that was almost clogged at the end of the cooling season could be completely blocked when you need heat. Because the heating season is short, issues found during regular maintenance often go unnoticed until something breaks.
Closet or attic installations: Many Valley homes have furnaces installed in closets or attics, where the airflow is limited. As a result, these setups are more likely to overheat, trip the limit switch, or strain the blower. Homes with open-basement installations in other regions rarely have these problems.
Older systems: Many homes in Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Granada Hills, Northridge, and Santa Clarita have old furnaces, often 15 to 20 years old, with no service history. These systems may still turn on, but their efficiency, heat exchanger condition, and electrical parts may be worn out. A single repair may not be the right investment. For a closer look at your system, visit: Heating contractor services.
Duct leaks and insulation gaps: They can reduce heating performance, just as air conditioning does during the summer. Likewise, hot air moving through uninsulated attic ducts loses heat before reaching your rooms.
Answer 3 quick questions to assess your furnace's condition
Repair is usually the right choice if your furnace is less than 12 years old, has isolated part failures (ignitor, flame sensor, capacitor, blower motor), and has a sound heat exchanger, and repair costs less than half the cost of replacement.
Consider replacing your furnace if it is 15 to 20 years old and needs a new heat exchanger or several repairs, if you have to fix it every heating season, if it cannot keep your home comfortable in normal winter weather, or if you want to switch from gas to a heat pump to get LADWP rebates of up to $2,500 per ton.
We present both options with real numbers: repair cost, replacement cost, estimated energy savings, rebate value, and expected lifespan. Decisions are based on facts, not sales pressure. See our heating installation option.
Gas furnaces produce combustion byproducts, including carbon monoxide. A properly operating furnace safely vents these gases. A cracked heat exchanger, blocked flue, or back-drafting can allow CO into living spaces.
During every gas furnace repair, our technicians perform a combustion analysis and carbon monoxide safety test with a calibrated analyzer. We measure CO levels in the flue, heat exchanger, and living space, and verify draft and flue operation. This is always included—never an upsell.
Our Simi Valley branch at (805) 755-4074 provides the same diagnostic and repair service across Ventura County. In this area, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks experience overnight temperature drops comparable to the San Fernando Valley.
Coastal communities face milder heating demand, but older systems in Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo still require the same diagnostic attention and safety testing when problems arise.
For full Ventura County details, visit our Ventura County HVAC Services page.
The $95 diagnostic fee covers the service call and full inspection. If you approve a repair, we credit that amount toward the repair cost, so the diagnostic fee is applied to the work. This makes the diagnosis free when you proceed with the repair.
Standard heating repairs, such as fixing the ignitor, flame sensor, capacitor, blower motor, or inducer motor, usually cost between $150 and $650. Replacing the heat exchanger or other major parts ranges from $1,200 to $2,800 or more. We always give you a written quote with a full breakdown before starting any repair.
Our trucks are stocked with the most common furnace parts. Most standard repairs are finished in one visit, so you do not need a return trip. Financing is available for larger repairs and replacements.
Affordable Heating and Air is a locally owned, woman-led company with deep roots in Southern California. From our Chatsworth headquarters, we proudly serve all of Los Angeles County, while our Simi Valley branch extends expert service across Ventura County.
Licensed C-20 Contractor — CSLB #1081403
A+ BBB Rating — Trusted for honesty and professionalism.
Certified Expertise — NATE-certified technicians and EPA Section 608 certified specialists
Safety First — Combustion analysis and CO testing performed at every gas furnace visit.
Proven Reputation — 4.9 stars from 1,400+ verified Google reviews
Affordable Diagnostics — $95 service diagnostic credited toward any repair
Care Club Maintenance Plans — Prevent breakdowns and extend system life.
The most common causes are a tripped breaker, a failed ignitor or flame sensor, a clogged air filter triggering a safety lockout, a thermostat set incorrectly, or a gas valve issue. Check the thermostat’s setting and the breaker first. If neither resolves the problem, a professional diagnosis is required.
Short cycling is typically caused by a dirty flame sensor, a clogged filter restricting airflow, or a high-limit switch tripping due to overheating. This is the most common furnace repair we perform in San Fernando Valley homes.
Repair usually makes sense for systems under 12 years old with isolated component failures. Replacement should be considered when the furnace is 15 to 20 years old, the heat exchanger is compromised, repairs are recurring, or you want to transition to a heat pump to capture LADWP rebates of up to $2,500 per ton.
A brief dusty smell when the furnace first runs after months of inactivity is normal. A persistent burning smell, hot wiring smell, or any natural gas odor requires immediate attention. If you smell gas, leave the house and call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside the house.
The $95 diagnostic fee is credited toward any approved repair. Standard repairs range from $150 to $650. Major component work — heat exchanger, inducer motor assembly — ranges from $1,200 to $2,800 or more. We quote every job in writing before starting.
Yes. Our Simi Valley branch at (805) 755-4074 serves Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, and Port Hueneme.
Visit our Ventura County page.
Check the thermostat and the breaker. If neither fixes it, call us. We will find the problem, explain it, give you a written quote, and fix it right.
Los Angeles County: (818) 722-1332
Ventura County: (805) 755-4074
Serving Chatsworth, Northridge, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, West Hills, Van Nuys, Encino, Woodland Hills, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Clarita, and all of Los Angeles County. Ventura County service through our Simi Valley branch.
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