Furnace & Heating Repair in Columbia, SC
Columbia's heating season is short, which means most no-heat calls arrive in a cluster the first genuinely cold week of the year - after the system has sat unused for months. Tell us what it is doing and we will connect you with a licensed local contractor.
Common symptoms and what they usually mean
No heat on the first cold night
The most common call of the season. A system that sat idle since spring can fail on its first run: a dirty flame sensor, a failed igniter, or a control board that did not survive the summer. Expect contractors to be at their busiest during exactly this week.
Burning smell when the heat first runs
Dust burning off the heat exchanger after months idle is normal and clears within an hour or so. A burning smell that persists, or smells electrical or like plastic, is not - shut the system down and get it looked at.
Blower runs but the air is cold
On a gas furnace this points at ignition or the gas supply. On a heat pump with strip heat it is a different diagnosis entirely, so mention which system you have.
Carbon monoxide alarm sounding
Leave the building and call 911 first. This is not something to book an HVAC appointment for and wait on. Only bring a contractor in after the property has been cleared.
Questions people ask
Do most Columbia homes have gas furnaces?
Not most - heat pumps are more common across the Midlands, though gas furnaces are found in plenty of older homes and in dual-fuel setups. Knowing which you have helps the contractor arrive with the right parts.
It is only cold for a few weeks a year - is a no-heat call worth it?
A no-heat fault does not repair itself over the summer, and the failure usually recurs on the next cold snap. Diagnosing it outside the first-freeze rush also tends to mean a shorter wait for an appointment.
Specific problem?
Send us the details
We pass them straight to a licensed local HVAC contractor covering your area. There is no cost to you.
Tell us what your system is doing
Send us the details and we will pass them to a licensed local HVAC contractor.