Terrell winters are usually mild, which makes it easy to forget about the heater until the first real cold front rolls through. Then it happens all at once: a furnace that won't light, a heat pump blowing cool air, or a burning smell when the system kicks on. North Texas also gets the occasional hard freeze — like the February 2021 winter storm — when a working heater isn't a comfort, it's a necessity. We repair gas furnaces, electric furnaces and heat pumps from all major brands.
Signs your heater needs repair
- No heat at all, or air that only feels lukewarm
- The furnace clicks but won't ignite, or lights and then shuts off
- The system turns on and off frequently
- A yellow or flickering burner flame instead of a steady blue one
- A burning or electrical smell that doesn't fade after the first few minutes of the season
- Banging, rattling, squealing or booming sounds
- A heat pump that stays iced over or runs nonstop on cold days
- Heating bills that jump without explanation
Safety first: gas and carbon monoxide
Gas heat is safe when it's working correctly, but some problems should never wait. If you smell gas — a rotten-egg odor — leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone out and call 911. Every home with gas appliances should have working CO detectors near the bedrooms.
On every gas heating repair, we test for carbon monoxide and inspect the heat exchanger — the part that keeps combustion gases separate from the air your family breathes.
What we check on a heating repair visit
For gas furnaces, we test the thermostat and control board, the igniter and flame sensor, the inducer motor and pressure switch, gas pressure, the safety limit switches and the blower motor. For heat pumps, we check refrigerant levels, the reversing valve, the defrost controls and the backup heat strips that take over on the coldest nights. Once we find the cause, you get a written price before any work begins. Our diagnostic visit is [$XX], and repairs are backed by our [90-day] parts & labor warranty.
Common heating repairs in Terrell
The repairs we see most often are dirty flame sensors (which cause a furnace to light and then shut right back down), failed hot-surface igniters, worn inducer motors, limit switches tripping because of restricted airflow, failed blower capacitors and heat pump defrost problems. Many of these are quick fixes when they're caught early — and a clogged filter is behind more no-heat calls than you might expect.
Repair or replace your heater?
Most gas furnaces last 15–20 years, and heat pumps about 10–15. Replacement is worth considering when a system is near the end of that range, needs repairs every season, or has a cracked heat exchanger — a safety issue that usually can't be repaired. If you're replacing a heat pump, or pairing a new furnace with a new air conditioner, our installation and replacement team can quote a properly matched system.
Quick checks before you call
- Set the thermostat to Heat and a few degrees above room temperature; replace its batteries if needed.
- Check the breaker for the furnace or air handler.
- Make sure the furnace door is fully closed — a safety switch keeps it from running with the panel off.
- Replace a dirty or clogged air filter.
- On a gas furnace, confirm the gas valve to the unit is turned on.
A fall heating tune-up is the best way to avoid a no-heat call on the first cold night of the year — see what's included in our HVAC maintenance visits. Air conditioner acting up instead? Head over to AC repair.