Home / Heating
Heat that works on the one night you need it.
Houston furnaces sit idle for nine months, then everyone turns them on the same cold night. That's when a dirty flame sensor or a cracked igniter shows up. We check gas furnaces and heat pumps, and test for carbon monoxide every time.
Which system you have
Gas furnace or heat pump?
Look at the outdoor unit. If it runs in winter, you have a heat pump. If only the indoor unit runs and there's a gas line going to it, it's a furnace. We service both.
| Gas furnace | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Common failure | Flame sensor, igniter, pressure switch | Reversing valve, defrost board, aux heat strips |
| Warning sign | Clicks, lights, shuts off within a minute | Blows lukewarm air, outdoor unit iced solid |
| Safety check | CO test, heat exchanger inspection | Heat strip amperage, wiring |
Safety first
If your CO alarm goes off, leave the house first.
Then call 911 or CenterPoint Energy at 713-659-2111 from outside. Once the fire department clears the house, we'll inspect the heat exchanger and venting and tell you exactly what failed.
CO reading
Measured at the flue and in the room, with the numbers written on your invoice.
Heat exchanger
Inspected with a camera where it's reachable. A crack means the furnace stays off until it's fixed.
Gas pressure
Checked against the manufacturer's spec so the burners light clean.
Venting
Flue pipe, joints and draft checked from the furnace to the roof.
Questions
Heating, answered.
There's a burning smell the first time I turn the heat on. Is that normal?
A dusty smell for 10 to 20 minutes is normal after months off. A smell like hot plastic or electrical burning isn't. Turn the system off and call.
My heat pump outdoor unit is covered in ice.
A light frost that clears every 30 to 90 minutes is the defrost cycle working. A solid block of ice that doesn't clear means the defrost board, sensor or refrigerant charge needs a look.
Should I replace my furnace and AC at the same time?
If both are over 15 years old, usually yes. The indoor coil and outdoor unit need to match, and one install visit costs less than two. If the furnace is younger and healthy, we'll leave it.
No heat tonight? Text us now.
Tell us what the furnace does when it tries to start: clicks, a flash of flame, or nothing at all.