Pontiac Furnace & Heating Help — Repair, Maintenance & Replacement

The most common cause is a dirty or failing flame sensor, which shuts off the gas valve because it can't confirm a flame is present. Other frequent culprits are a failed igniter, a stuck or misaligned pressure switch, or a clogged flue that prevents proper draft. A technician can usually identify which one it is within the first few minutes of a service call in Pontiac.

Cost depends on what's actually broken — a flame sensor cleaning or a capacitor swap is a minor repair, while a control board or heat exchanger replacement costs considerably more. We don't quote a number until we've diagnosed the actual problem in your Pontiac home, and you'll get a written estimate before any repair work starts.

A faint dusty smell for the first few minutes of the heating season is common — it's dust burning off the heat exchanger. A persistent burning smell, a smell of rotten eggs (natural gas has an added odorant), or any smell that doesn't fade is not normal. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company before calling anyone else.

Age, repair cost relative to replacement cost, and the specific part that failed all matter. A furnace under 10-12 years old with a straightforward part failure is usually worth repairing. An older unit with a cracked heat exchanger or a major component failure is often better replaced. We'll give you an honest comparison for your Pontiac home rather than push one option.