Heating and Cooling, Explained Straight
Plain answers about furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and the questions worth asking before anyone tells you to replace the whole system. Written by a team that would rather fix it right the first time.
The Questions We Hear on the Phone, Answered in Writing
A lot of HVAC calls start with a question, not a breakdown. Is the breaker tripped? Is the fan even running? Is this worth fixing, or is somebody trying to sell me a new unit? We talk those questions through over the phone with homeowners across the Portland metro, often before anyone needs to come out, and this blog is where we write the answers down.
If your air conditioner quits in the middle of summer, start with our rundown of the most common AC failures, then see how we approach fixing your AC. Furnace lighting and then shutting off, or not lighting at all? We cover that too, along with what goes into getting your heat back on when the problem runs deeper than a dirty part.
Before you sign off on a whole-system replacement, read what to look for in an HVAC contractor and why a second opinion can save you real money. And if you are weighing a new system, our look at electric and gas heat lays out the trade-offs for Portland-area homes.
Told you need a new system? Read this first
Two real service calls where a replacement had already been quoted, and what we actually found: a corroded condensate pump and an undersized breaker. Plus a quick checklist for deciding whether your quote deserves a second look.
Recent Posts on Repairs, Replacements, and Maintenance
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Read ArticleAsk Us — It Might Become the Next Post
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