Furnace repair in Fresno
No heat this morning?Diagnosed today. Fixed today.
Most furnace calls in this valley come down to an igniter, a flame sensor or a pressure switch — not a new system. We measure gas pressure, temperature rise and combustion before anyone says a word about replacement.
24/7 emergency Firm price first Published pricing
What is your furnace doing?
Start here. Each one covers the likely causes, what you can safely check yourself, and when it needs a technician.
No heat at all right now, with infants or elderly at home? Emergency furnace repair — or just call (559) 520-4240.
The diagnostic
What we actually measure
Plenty of furnace calls in this market end with "your heat exchanger is cracked, you need a new system." Sometimes that is true. Frequently it is an assertion rather than a finding, and it arrives without a photograph or a combustion reading to support it.
A cracked heat exchanger is a real and serious fault. It is also the single most common reason a working furnace gets replaced unnecessarily. Here is what a diagnosis that earns that conclusion looks like.
- Gas pressure at the manifold and inlet, read on a manometer against the data plate rather than assumed correct.
- Temperature rise across the heat exchanger, measured at return and supply and compared to the manufacturer's stated range. Out of range points at airflow or firing rate.
- Combustion analysis in the flue — carbon monoxide, oxygen and draft. This is what distinguishes a suspicion from a finding.
- Flame sensor microamps read against specification. A sensor can look clean and still be too weak to hold the gas valve open.
- Static pressure across the air handler, which is how a duct or filter restriction gets found rather than guessed at.
- The full ignition sequence observed end to end — call for heat, inducer, pressure switch proving, igniter, valve, flame proof, blower.
- Heat exchanger inspected visually, with a camera where access allows, and photographed. If we condemn it, you see it. More on that inspection
- Safety circuit function — limit switches, rollout switches and the pressure switch tested rather than jumped out to make the call go away.
- Gas connections leak-checked and blower amp draw verified against the data plate.
What furnace repair costs in Fresno
Most companies will not publish this. Here are typical ranges for the repairs we do most often, so you know roughly where you stand before anyone knocks on your door.
Ranges depend on the part, your equipment and whether the component is still under manufacturer warranty. You get a firm number before we start — never after. More on furnace repair pricing
Before you spend five figures
Been told your furnace needs replacing?
Sometimes that is the right call. Often it is not, and a condemned heat exchanger with no photograph behind it is the most common version we see. We will diagnose the system independently, run our own combustion readings, show you what we find, and tell you honestly whether the replacement quote holds up. No charge, no obligation, no pressure either direction.
Why furnaces fail here
Mild Central Valley winters sound easy on a furnace. What they actually produce is a system that sits still for most of the year and then gets asked to work without warning.
Eight months of standing still
Dust settles on the flame sensor and burners, bearings stiffen, and rodents find a warm cabinet nobody has opened since March. Most first-cold-night failures were sitting there all summer.
Flame sensors and Valley dust
The sensor needs a clean surface to conduct a tiny current that proves flame. Agricultural dust coats it, the furnace lights and shuts down seconds later, and it is one of the least expensive repairs we do.
Attic furnaces baked all summer
Equipment mounted in a Fresno attic spends July at 150 degrees. Wiring insulation, control boards and flexible connections age from that heat long before winter asks anything of them.
Low run hours hide faults
A lightly used furnace can carry a developing problem for years without symptoms. Corrosion and heat exchanger fatigue do not depend on how often you switch it on.
The whole city calls the same night
The first genuinely cold evening produces our heaviest call volume of the year. A tune-up in October costs the same as one in December and comes with a much shorter wait.
One blower, both seasons
On a central system, the furnace blower is what moves your cold air in July too. So a summer of restricted airflow shows up as a heating fault in November.
What happens when you call
Four steps from your phone call to a warm house.
1
Tell us what it is doing
Call or book online. We confirm the arrival window before we hang up.
2
We diagnose it properly
Gas pressure, temperature rise, combustion and static pressure measured, not a look and a guess.
3
You see the findings
Photos of the fault, the readings, and a firm price on each option.
4
You approve, we repair
Most repairs are finished the same visit, at the price you agreed to.
What Fresno homeowners say
★★★★★
I realized something was wrong with my AC when I got home Tuesday afternoon and noticed it wasn't blowing cold air. I called them right away, and they were able to send a technician to my Fresno home that same evening. The repair only took about 45 minutes, and everything was back to normal once the work was done.
Debbie Kram · Google review
★★★★★
Wow! Just an amazing experience! Air conditioner went out and they were able to get it fixed the same day! Wonderful crew and extremely nice. Would definitely use again.
Paige Pender · Google review
★★★★★
I had a great experience with this AC service company! From the moment I called, they were professional, responsive, and knowledgeable. The technician arrived on time, diagnosed the issue quickly, and explained everything clearly before starting the work.
Angelica Torres · Google review
Same technicians, same diagnostic standard, both seasons. Read all our Google reviews
Where we repair
Furnace repair across Fresno and the surrounding Fresno County communities.
Furnace repair questions
How much does furnace repair cost in Fresno?
Most furnace repairs fall between $175 and $3,500. Flame sensors, igniters and pressure switches sit at the low end and are the most common repairs we do. Control boards, gas valves, draft inducers and blower motors sit in the middle. Heat exchanger replacement is the top of the range, and at that point replacement is usually the better value. See the full breakdown.
Can you come out the same day?
Usually, and we answer 24 hours a day. During the first cold snap of the season demand spikes sharply across the whole city, so calling early in the day helps. Households with infants, elderly residents or anyone with a health condition are prioritized. More on emergency service.
My furnace lights and then shuts off after a few seconds. What is that?
Classic flame sensor. The sensor conducts a very small current to prove flame is present, and if dust or oxidation coats it the furnace cannot confirm ignition and shuts the gas valve as a safety measure. It is one of the least expensive repairs we do, and extremely common here given the dust. Occasionally it is a pressure switch or a flue restriction instead, which is why it gets measured rather than assumed.
Another company said my heat exchanger is cracked. Should I get a second opinion?
Yes. A cracked heat exchanger is a genuine safety issue and a legitimate reason to condemn a furnace — and it is also the most common reason a perfectly serviceable furnace gets replaced. A credible condemnation includes a photograph of the crack and combustion readings from the flue, not just a statement. Our second opinions are free and we will tell you honestly if the first company was right.
Is it worth repairing an older furnace?
Frequently yes, and more often here than elsewhere. Mild Central Valley winters mean our furnaces accumulate far fewer run hours than one in a cold climate, so age alone is a poor indicator. What matters is heat exchanger condition, combustion readings and whether the repair cost is approaching a meaningful share of replacement. How we make that call.
Why does my furnace smell when I turn it on for the first time?
Usually dust burning off the heat exchanger after months of sitting idle, which is normal and clears within an hour or so. What is not normal is a sharp or acrid smell, a smell that persists across several days of use, or anything resembling gas. If you smell gas, leave the house and call from outside. More on furnace smells.
Do you work on wall furnaces and floor furnaces?
Yes. Older Fresno neighborhoods have plenty of both, and a number of local companies decline them. They are genuinely different equipment with different parts and different safety considerations. More on wall and floor furnaces.
Do you charge a diagnostic fee?
Yes, and it is waived on approved repairs. It covers a proper diagnosis rather than a quick look, which is what lets us give you a firm price and evidence rather than a guess. How the diagnostic fee works.
Let's find out what is actually wrong
Measured diagnosis, photos of the fault, and a firm price before any work begins.
Prices shown are typical ranges for the Fresno area and are not quotes. If you smell gas, leave the building and call from outside. Guidance on this page is general information and not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. California Heating & AC Repair is operated by Craftline Renovations, Inc. · CSLB License #999179 · Licensed and insured.