In Novato, the HVAC question is often bigger than a single repair. Many homes here are 1950s to 1970s tract houses and newer subdivisions with a furnace in the garage or a hall closet, ducts in the attic or crawlspace, and either an aging air conditioner or none at all. Summer afternoons in this inland valley run noticeably hotter than near the bay, while winter nights are cool and damp. So the work in Novato centers on three things: keeping older furnaces safe and running, deciding when to replace them, and adding cooling, most often with a heat pump.
Furnace inspection before the heating season
A yearly inspection finds the weak spots before the first cold night does. A furnace that sat unused all summer shows its weak spots in October and November: an igniter near the end of its life, a flame sensor coated with residue, a filter forgotten since spring. A proper inspection covers:
- Ignition and flame: the igniter, the flame sensor and how the burners light and hold a flame.
- Heat exchanger and venting: looking for cracks, rust and blocked or loose vent pipe, and checking for carbon monoxide.
- Air side: the filter, the blower and its motor, and the temperature rise across the furnace.
- Safety controls: the limit switch, pressure switch and rollout switches, tested rather than assumed.
Furnace repair in Novato handles whatever the inspection turns up, and HVAC maintenance in Novato puts the inspection on a schedule.
Repair or replace the furnace?
| What you see | What it usually means | The usual answer |
|---|---|---|
| One part failed, furnace otherwise healthy | An igniter, sensor, switch or motor | Repair |
| Cracked heat exchanger | Combustion gases can mix with house air | Replace |
| Several repairs in the last few winters | Parts wearing out one after another | Compare repair and replacement prices |
| Rooms far from the furnace never warm up | Ducts, not the furnace | Duct repair first |
| Parts no longer made for the model | Each repair takes longer and costs more | Plan a replacement |
When replacement is the answer, the new furnace should be sized to the house, not copied from the old label. A tract home that has been remodeled, insulated or given new windows since the original furnace went in may need a different size now. See furnace installation in Novato and our furnace installation page for what the quote covers.
Heat pumps for hot Novato afternoons
A heat pump heats and cools with one system, so replacing an old furnace is a natural time to add cooling. In Novato’s mild winters a heat pump can carry most or all of the heating, and on a hot August afternoon it runs as an air conditioner. Before quoting, we check:
- The ducts: whether they are sealed and large enough to carry cooling airflow, which needs more air than heating.
- The electrical panel: whether it has room for the outdoor unit’s circuit.
- Placement: a spot for the outdoor unit with clearance for airflow and service, away from bedroom windows.
- The thermostat: a heat pump needs a thermostat set up for it.
Heat pump services in Novato covers installation, repair and the yearly maintenance a heat pump needs, since it works in both seasons.
AC maintenance before summer
If you keep a central air conditioner, a spring check pays off. Novato’s hot spells are when weak capacitors and dirty outdoor coils fail. The visit cleans and inspects the outdoor coil, tests the capacitor and contactor, clears the condensate drain and checks how well the system cools. If something has already failed, see AC repair in Novato.
Neighborhoods and zip codes
We work across Novato’s zip codes 94945, 94947 and 94949: Old Town Novato, Hamilton, Ignacio, San Marin, Indian Valley, Bel Marin Keys and Marin Country Club. Same-day service is usually possible when you call before noon, appointments run from 8 AM to 8 PM every day, and you get an itemized price after the diagnosis, before any work starts. We also serve San Rafael to the south.