Furnace Repair in Liberty Hill & Central Texas

Central Texas winters are usually mild, which is exactly why heating problems catch people off guard. A furnace or electric heat system may sit idle for months and then get called on suddenly when a cold front or a hard freeze moves through. This page covers the most common heating problems, important safety steps, and what a licensed contractor will look at. Requests submitted here go to an independent, TDLR-licensed HVAC contracting company. We are a referral service and do not perform repairs ourselves.

Know which kind of heat you have

Most homes in this area use one of three setups:

• Gas furnace with a central air conditioner. The furnace, usually in the attic, a closet or a garage, burns natural gas or propane, and a blower pushes warm air through the ducts.
• Electric air handler with resistance heat strips. Common in all-electric homes. The heat strips work like a big toaster element inside the air handler. They're simple, but expensive to run in a long cold spell.
• Heat pump. One outdoor unit provides both cooling and heating, usually with backup heat strips for very cold weather. See our heat pump page.

If you're not sure, look at the indoor unit. A gas furnace will have a gas line, a flue pipe going up through the roof, and usually a small inspection window or burner compartment.

Common heating problems

• No heat at all. Check the thermostat mode and set point first, then the breaker and the furnace's service switch, which often looks like a light switch near the unit. Many furnaces also have a door safety switch that keeps them off if the panel isn't seated properly.
• The blower runs but the air is cool. On a gas furnace, this can mean a failed igniter, a dirty flame sensor, a gas supply problem, or a safety limit tripping. On electric systems, it can mean failed heat strips or a tripped heat-strip breaker.
• Short cycling. The furnace lights, runs briefly and shuts off. A clogged filter causing overheating, a dirty flame sensor, or a venting problem are typical causes.
• A burning smell at first startup. A brief dusty smell the first time the heat runs each season is common as dust burns off. A persistent burning, electrical or rotten-egg smell is not normal.
• Blinking lights on the control board. Most modern furnaces flash a diagnostic code. Note the pattern and the chart on the panel door. It can save the technician time.

Safety first: gas and carbon monoxide

Gas furnaces are safe when they're properly installed and maintained, but they need respect.

• If you smell gas (a rotten-egg odor), leave the house immediately. Don't flip switches, use phones inside or try to find the leak. Once you're outside, call your gas utility's emergency line or 911.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas and on each level of a home with any fuel-burning appliance. CO is colorless and odorless. Symptoms of exposure such as headache, dizziness and nausea can be mistaken for the flu.
• If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911 or the fire department.
• A cracked heat exchanger can let combustion gases mix with the house air. It's one reason annual inspection of gas furnaces matters, especially older ones.

Never bypass a furnace safety switch or limit control to keep the heat running. They exist to prevent fires and CO exposure.

What a contractor will check

A heating diagnosis generally includes:

• Confirming the thermostat is calling for heat and the control wiring is sound.
• On gas units: inspecting the igniter, flame sensor, burners, gas pressure, inducer motor, pressure switch and flue venting, and checking the heat exchanger.
• On electric units: testing heat strip elements, sequencers or relays, and the high-amp wiring and breakers that feed them.
• Measuring temperature rise across the unit to confirm it's heating within the manufacturer's specification.
• Inspecting the blower and filter, since airflow problems cause many heating faults too.

Expect a clear explanation before any repair begins. Texas rules require a licensed contractor's proposals and invoices to show the company's name, address and phone number, the TDLR license number, and TDLR's contact information.

Freezes and power outages

Hard freezes, like the February 2021 winter storm that hit Texas, put unusual strain on heating systems and power grids. A few practical points:

• Heat pumps lean on their backup heat strips in very cold weather, which can sharply increase electric demand and bills.
• During outages, never use a gas oven, grill, or generator indoors or in an attached garage for heat. These are leading causes of CO poisoning during winter storms.
• After power returns, a system that won't restart may have a tripped breaker or a control board that needs a reset. If a simple breaker reset doesn't work, request service.

Repair or replace?

Furnaces often last longer than air conditioners because they run fewer hours in a mild climate, but age still matters. A cracked heat exchanger on an older furnace is usually a replacement conversation. Small parts such as igniters, flame sensors, inducer motors and pressure switches are usually worth repairing. If both your furnace and AC are aging, replacing them together can make sense so the indoor and outdoor components match. See our installation guide.

Preventing heating problems

A fall tune-up before the first cold front is the best way to avoid a no-heat call. A technician can clean the flame sensor, check the igniter, inspect venting and test safety controls while the weather is still mild and schedules are easier.

How a request works

1. Use the form to tell us your town, the type of system if you know it, and what's happening.
2. We forward it to an independent, licensed and insured HVAC contractor that serves your area.
3. The contractor contacts you directly to schedule and quote. Any agreement for work is between you and that contractor.

We don't charge homeowners for this service and don't set the contractor's prices or schedule. If there's a gas smell or a CO alarm, don't wait for a callback. Leave the home and call 911 or your gas utility.

Furnace Repair FAQs