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Palo Alto Heating Repair

The short answer

We repair furnaces, heat pumps, ductless systems, wall heaters and boiler-fed radiant heat in Palo Alto homes. A technician identifies your system, tests the failed component, checks safety, and explains repairs before starting.

Cold mornings in Palo Alto tend to sneak up in late fall, and the first one usually reveals which heating systems survived the summer and which did not. Because so many local homes use something other than a basic gas furnace, from radiant slabs to ductless heads to heat pumps added during remodels, a heating repair here starts with understanding exactly what you have. ReliableAir HVAC Services repairs home heating equipment throughout 94301, 94303, 94304 and 94306, about 11 miles west of our San Jose base. This page answers the questions we hear most from Palo Alto homeowners when the heat stops working.

What kind of heating do you have?

Knowing your system type helps us prepare. If you are not sure, look for these clues:

  • Vents in floors or ceilings and a metal cabinet in a closet, attic, garage or crawlspace: forced-air furnace or ducted heat pump
  • White wall-mounted units in rooms and an outdoor condenser: ductless heat pump
  • A grille in a hallway wall that gets hot, with no ducts: gravity wall furnace
  • Warm floors and a boiler or water heater with extra pipes and pumps: hydronic radiant heat
  • Baseboard units along walls: electric or hydronic baseboard

Most common heating complaints we fix

No heat at all is the obvious one, usually caused by an ignition failure, a tripped breaker, a lockout from a pressure or limit switch, or a thermostat problem. Short cycling, where the system runs briefly and stops, often points to a flame sensor, overheating from poor airflow, or an oversized system.

Uneven heating is a frequent complaint in older Palo Alto homes. Leaky or disconnected ducts in crawlspaces and attics can dump heat where nobody feels it. Radiant zones may stop circulating because of a failed pump or zone valve. Heat pumps can leave rooms cool when stuck in defrost, low on refrigerant, or misconfigured at the thermostat.

How we approach each system

For gas furnaces and wall heaters, we follow the ignition sequence to find the failing step, then inspect the flue and heat exchanger and check for carbon monoxide. For heat pumps and ductless systems, we read fault codes, measure refrigerant pressures in heating mode, and test the reversing valve, sensors and defrost controls. For hydronic systems, we check the boiler, circulator pumps, zone valves, expansion tank and system pressure.

In each case, you receive a clear explanation of what failed and a written repair option before work begins. We do not replace parts on guesswork.

Remodeled homes and hidden issues

Palo Alto houses have often been expanded and remodeled over the years, and heating systems were not always updated to match. An addition may have been tied into an undersized duct trunk, a furnace may now sit in a smaller closet with restricted combustion air, or a flue may have been rerouted during a roof replacement.

During a repair, we will point out anything like this that affects performance or safety. Sometimes a modest fix, such as adding a return, sealing a disconnected duct, or correcting a vent connection, makes a bigger difference than the original repair.

Thinking about the long term

If your system is old and repairs keep piling up, it may be time to think about replacement. Bay Area Air District rules do not require replacing working equipment, but under Rule 9-4, gas furnaces manufactured from 2029 must meet a zero-NOx standard, which leans future replacements toward heat pumps. We can talk through your options, including heat pumps, without pressure. Many homeowners simply want the current system fixed, and that is exactly what we do.

Nearby cities

Our technicians also repair heating systems in Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino. Tell us what kind of system you have and what it is doing, and we will arrange a visit.

More services in Palo Alto

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What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. Test, then talk

    Readings come first. You hear the cause of the problem and see the evidence before any part is replaced.

  2. Options, not pressure

    When repair and replacement are both reasonable, we lay out each path and let you choose the one that fits your home and plans.

  3. Respect for the house

    Shoe covers, drop cloths and a cleared work area. Attics, closets and side yards are left the way we found them.

FAQ

Common questions

Do you repair radiant floor heating in Palo Alto?

Yes. We service boilers, circulator pumps, zone valves and controls on hydronic radiant systems, and we can help evaluate suspected slab leaks.

Why are some rooms warm and others cold?

Leaky or disconnected ducts, closed dampers, weak airflow, or radiant zones that are not circulating are frequent causes. We test airflow and inspect the distribution system.

Can you fix ductless heat pumps that show an error code?

Yes. Error codes point us toward sensors, fans, communication faults or refrigerant problems, and we diagnose from there.

Is it safe to keep using an old wall heater?

It can be if it is in good condition and properly vented. We inspect the burner, pilot, gas valve and clearances to confirm it is safe.

Do I have to replace my furnace under new Bay Area rules?

No. The rules apply only when equipment fails or is replaced. A working furnace can be repaired and kept in service.

What should I check before calling for heating repair?

Check thermostat settings and batteries, the breaker, the furnace switch, and the filter. If those look fine and there is still no heat, schedule a visit.

Tell us what your system is doing

Describe the noise, smell, error code or temperature problem, and we will set up a visit to find the cause and talk through your options.

(669) 666-6071
Call (669) 666-6071 Request Service