Furnace & Heater Repair in Antioch & Contra Costa
Gas and electric heater and furnace repair
Most East Bay homes heat with a gas forced-air furnace, while roughly a quarter to a third of East County homes use electric heat and the Delta towns lean on propane. When your heater blows cold air, short-cycles, smells like burning for more than a few minutes, or won't light at all, we find out why. We repair igniters, flame sensors, pressure switches, inducer and blower motors, control boards and gas valves, and check the heat exchanger and venting on every heating call.
Why choose Blue Star
We diagnose before we sell. Our technician runs the furnace through a full cycle, reads the error codes, tests the safety switches and checks gas pressure and airflow, then explains what failed and gives you a price. If we find a cracked heat exchanger or a carbon monoxide risk, we show you the problem instead of just telling you about it.
- Igniters and flame sensors
- Pilot and gas valve issues
- Blower and inducer motors
- Control boards and codes
- Heat exchanger safety check
- Venting and CO checks
Where we work
Heater calls start with the first cold snap in late October or November, when furnaces that sat idle all summer get switched on. The Antioch weather station has dropped as low as 18F, and Delta nights can run damp and cold. Homes in Byron, Knightsen and Bethel Island often heat with propane or electric, so we work on those systems too. Central County houses from the 1950s-70s often have older furnaces in hall closets, attics or crawlspaces.
Major corridors
- SR-4
- SR-160
- Byron Hwy
- Bethel Island Rd
- Kirker Pass Rd
- Clayton Rd
- Pacheco Blvd
- Alhambra Ave
Find your town
4.9 stars on Google
Read more reviewsColton was great. He found the problem right away and did a temporary fix to get my a/c running until he could get the right part ordered. He also made sure every inside was working well.
Questions we hear
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
Check the thermostat first: it should be set to heat, not fan on, and above room temperature. Then check the filter, since a clogged one can make the furnace overheat and shut the burners off. If the blower runs but the burners won't stay lit, the cause is often a dirty flame sensor, a failed igniter or a pressure switch problem. Those need a technician.
What does a burning smell from my heater mean?
A dusty burning smell for the first few minutes of the season is normal, since dust on the heat exchanger is burning off. If it lasts longer, smells electrical or like hot plastic, shut the system off. If you smell gas, leave the house and call PG&E or 911 from outside. Either way, have the furnace checked before you use it again.
Why does my furnace turn on and off every few minutes?
Short cycling usually comes from overheating, a dirty flame sensor, a thermostat in a bad spot or a furnace that is too big for the house. A clogged filter or closed supply vents can make the furnace hit its high-limit switch and shut down. Replace the filter and open the vents. If it keeps cycling, call us, since it wears out parts and wastes gas.
Can you repair propane and electric heating systems?
Yes. Many homes in Byron, Knightsen, Bethel Island and other Delta areas heat with propane furnaces, electric furnaces or heat pumps. Propane furnaces work much like natural gas units but are set up for a different gas pressure, so the conversion has to be checked. Electric systems often fail at heating elements, sequencers or relays, which we test and replace.
Should I repair my furnace or replace it?
A furnace under about 15 years old with a failed igniter, sensor or motor is usually worth repairing. A cracked heat exchanger, repeated failures or a unit over 20 years old often points toward replacement. Keep the Bay Area Air District's rule in mind: from 2029, new furnaces installed in the district must be zero-NOx, which in practice means a heat pump. We help you plan either way.
Related services
All servicesBlue Star Heating & Air is just a call away!
Heater not working? Call (925) 584-2428 Monday through Friday, or send a request with what the furnace is doing.