When the furnace stops heating, the house gets cold fast. Bellows repairs and maintains gas furnaces for homes across Santa Cruz County, the South Bay and Marin, and we have been licensed in California since 1984.
What a repair visit costs
The diagnostic visit is $189, and we waive it if you go ahead with the repair. Home Protection Plan members pay nothing for it.
We do not charge by the hour. Once we know what is wrong, you get a written upfront price for the repair, so you know the total before any work begins.
We answer the phone at any hour. Evenings and weekends cost more than a weekday visit, and we tell you the after hours rate when you call, not after we arrive.
If you smell gas, stop here
If you smell natural gas, do not try to troubleshoot the furnace. Leave the house, get everyone out, avoid anything that could make a spark, and call 911 and then PG&E from somewhere away from the house.
Furnace problems we fix
- Blowing cold air. Often a thermostat setting or a clogged filter, sometimes a failed flame sensor or igniter. Our guide to a heater blowing cold air covers the checks you can make first.
- Will not turn on or will not stay lit. Ignition, flame sensing, the gas valve and the control board are the usual suspects.
- Short cycling. A furnace that starts and stops every few minutes is often overheating because of restricted airflow.
- New noises. Banging, squealing or rattling usually points to the burners, the blower or a loose part.
- Shutting down on a high efficiency furnace. A blocked condensate line can stop the furnace until it is cleared.
Repair or replace?
If the system is old and the repair is large, a simple rule helps. Multiply the age of the system in years by the repair cost. If the answer is more than $5,000, replacement is usually the better use of the money. If it is well under, a repair often makes sense, and we will tell you so.
If you are replacing a furnace, it is worth pricing a heat pump too, because one system heats and cools. See furnace replacement and AC and heat pump installation.
Maintenance before the heating season
A furnace check once a year, before it gets cold, catches worn parts and dirty burners while they are still small problems. See our Home Protection Plan for annual maintenance.
How fast we get there
Most of the time we can reach your home within a few hours. If the schedule changes, we tell you as soon as we know.
Who turns up
Our technicians are NATE certified and factory trained. We have held our C36 plumbing license since 1984 and have since added C20 for HVAC and C10 for electrical. We are insured, bonded and carry workers compensation insurance. CA Lic# 483881.
Where we work
We run four offices, so the technician who comes out is local:
- Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, from Soquel
- Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, from Campbell
- Marin County, from Novato
- Sonoma and Napa counties, from Santa Rosa
Common questions
What does a repair visit cost?
The diagnostic visit is $189, and we waive it if you go ahead with the repair. Home Protection Plan members pay nothing for it. Once we know what is wrong, you get a written upfront price before any work begins.
How soon can you get here?
Most of the time we can reach your home within a few hours.
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
The most common causes are a thermostat fan set to On instead of Auto, a clogged air filter that makes the furnace overheat and shut off its burners, a failed flame sensor or igniter, or a gas supply problem. Check the thermostat and the filter first. If the air is still cold, the furnace needs a technician.
How often should a furnace be serviced?
Once a year, ideally before the heating season starts.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. CA Lic# 483881, with C36, C20 and C10 classifications. We are insured, bonded and carry workers compensation insurance.
