Question 1

My furnace isn't heating — what should I check before calling?

Accepted Answer

Check your thermostat settings, make sure the filter isn't clogged, and verify the circuit breaker hasn't tripped. If those are fine, call us for a professional diagnosis.

Question 2

Do you repair gas and electric furnaces?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our technicians are trained on all types of heating systems including gas furnaces, electric furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers.

Question 3

How much does a heating repair cost?

Accepted Answer

Repair costs vary depending on the issue. We charge a flat diagnostic fee and provide a written estimate before any work begins — no surprises.

Question 4

Why does my furnace keep turning on and off every few minutes?

Accepted Answer

Short cycling is usually caused by a dirty filter, a malfunctioning flame sensor, or an overheating heat exchanger tripping the high-limit switch. The furnace starts up, runs for a few minutes, shuts off on safety, cools down, and tries again — that's the on-off-on pattern you're seeing. Left unaddressed, short cycling dramatically increases wear on the ignitor, gas valve, and blower motor, leading to premature failure.

Question 5

Why won't my furnace shut off?

Accepted Answer

If the burners are running continuously, the furnace can't satisfy the thermostat — this usually means the unit is undersized for your home, there's significant heat loss through poor insulation or duct leaks, or it's extremely cold outside and the system has reached its capacity. If the blower fan runs nonstop but the burners cycle normally, check that your thermostat fan setting is on 'AUTO' rather than 'ON.'

Question 6

My furnace runs all day but the house never gets warm enough — why?

Accepted Answer

In Asheville's mountain climate, this often comes down to undersized equipment, leaky ductwork losing heated air in unconditioned spaces like crawlspaces or attics, or a furnace that's lost efficiency due to age and wear. We see 15–25% heat loss through duct leaks alone in many older homes. A technician can measure your system's temperature rise and static pressure to pinpoint exactly where the problem is.

Question 7

What does a squealing noise from my furnace mean?

Accepted Answer

A high-pitched squeal or screech typically comes from the blower motor — either the bearings are failing or, in older belt-driven units, the belt is worn, loose, or misaligned. Modern direct-drive blower motors don't have belts, so squealing in a newer furnace almost always means the motor bearings are going out and the motor will need replacement soon.

Question 8

Why does my furnace smell like gas?

Accepted Answer

If you smell gas near your furnace, shut it off immediately, leave the house, and call your gas company or 911 from outside. A gas smell can indicate a cracked gas line, a leaking gas valve, or a failed heat exchanger. Never use a lighter, flip switches, or use your phone near a gas leak. This is a genuine emergency and should be treated as one.

Question 9

What does a rotten egg smell near my furnace mean?

Accepted Answer

Natural gas is odorless, so utilities add mercaptan — a chemical that smells like rotten eggs — to help you detect leaks. If you smell rotten eggs, treat it as a gas leak: turn off the furnace, leave the house immediately, and call the gas company from outside. Do not operate any electrical switches or appliances on your way out.

Question 10

Why does my furnace give off a chemical smell?

Accepted Answer

A chemical or formaldehyde-like smell can come from a cracked heat exchanger allowing combustion gases to mix with your home's air supply — this is a carbon monoxide risk and needs immediate attention. It can also come from new components off-gassing after installation, which is temporary. If the smell is persistent and accompanied by headaches or nausea, shut the system off and call for emergency service.

Question 11

Why does my furnace pilot light keep going out?

Accepted Answer

A pilot light that won't stay lit is usually caused by a faulty thermocouple — the safety device that detects whether the pilot is burning. When the thermocouple fails, it tells the gas valve to shut off even though the pilot is fine. A dirty pilot orifice or a drafty area near the furnace can also blow out the pilot. Thermocouple replacement is a straightforward, inexpensive repair.

Question 12

How do I know if my furnace ignitor is bad?

Accepted Answer

The most common sign is the furnace going through its startup sequence — you'll hear the inducer motor kick on — but the burners never light. The ignitor glows orange when it's working; if you can safely see it and it doesn't glow during the ignition cycle, it's failed. Most ignitors last 3–5 years. We carry common ignitor types on our trucks and can replace them in a single visit.

Question 13

How do I know if my furnace blower motor is going bad?

Accepted Answer

Warning signs include unusual noises (humming, squealing, or grinding), the blower running intermittently or not at all, weak airflow from your vents, or the furnace overheating and shutting off due to poor air circulation. A blower motor that's hot to the touch or trips the breaker when it starts is on its last legs. Catching it early can save you from a complete mid-winter breakdown.

Question 14

How much does a furnace blower motor replacement cost?

Accepted Answer

In Asheville, a blower motor replacement typically runs $400–$900 depending on whether it's a standard PSC motor or a variable-speed ECM motor. ECM motors are more expensive ($600–$900) but significantly more efficient and quieter. The labor is usually 1–2 hours. If your furnace is over 15 years old, compare the motor cost against replacement of the whole unit.

Question 15

Why does my furnace keep tripping the breaker?

Accepted Answer

A furnace tripping the breaker is usually caused by a failing blower motor drawing excessive amperage, a short in the wiring, or a grounded-out component. Occasionally a shared circuit that's overloaded is the culprit. Don't keep resetting the breaker — repeated tripping means there's an electrical fault that could cause a fire. A technician will check amperage draw on the motor and inspect wiring for damage.

Question 16

Why isn't my thermostat turning on the furnace?

Accepted Answer

The most common culprits are dead thermostat batteries, the thermostat being set to cooling mode instead of heating, or a tripped float switch if you have a condensing furnace. If the thermostat screen is on and set correctly, the issue may be a broken wire in the thermostat cable, a blown fuse on the furnace control board, or a failed transformer. We can diagnose thermostat-to-furnace communication issues quickly with a multimeter.

Question 17

How much does furnace repair cost in Asheville?

Accepted Answer

Most furnace repairs in Asheville cost between $150 and $600. Simple fixes like an ignitor replacement or flame sensor cleaning run $150–$300. Mid-range repairs like a blower motor capacitor, gas valve, or circuit board are $300–$600. Major repairs like a blower motor replacement can reach $400–$900. We charge a flat diagnostic fee that's applied to the repair cost if you choose to proceed.

Question 18

What should I do if my carbon monoxide detector goes off?

Accepted Answer

Leave the house immediately with all family members and pets. Do not stop to open windows or turn off the furnace. Call 911 from outside. Do not re-enter until emergency services have cleared the home and identified the source. Carbon monoxide is lethal at high concentrations, and the source — often a cracked heat exchanger — needs professional repair before the furnace can be used again.

Question 19

Do you offer emergency furnace repair in Asheville?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we provide 24/7 emergency furnace repair throughout Asheville and Western North Carolina. When your heat fails on a freezing night, call us and a technician will be dispatched as quickly as possible. We stock common parts like ignitors, flame sensors, blower motors, and control boards on our trucks, so most emergency repairs are completed in a single visit.

Question 20

Why is one room in my house always colder than the others?

Accepted Answer

Uneven heating is usually caused by a duct issue — a crushed flex duct, a disconnected boot, a closed damper, or inadequate supply runs to that room. It can also be caused by poor insulation in an exterior wall or a room that's far from the furnace with long duct runs. We can measure airflow at each register and trace the ductwork to find exactly where the problem is.

Question 21

What areas does Quality Mechanical serve for furnace repair?

Accepted Answer

We serve Asheville and all of Western North Carolina including Hendersonville, Brevard, Waynesville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Fletcher, Arden, Mills River, Swannanoa, and surrounding communities in Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, and Transylvania counties. Our technicians are dispatched from Asheville and typically arrive within a few hours for standard service calls.

Question 22

Can I repair my furnace myself?

Accepted Answer

Homeowners can safely handle filter changes, thermostat battery replacement, checking the breaker, and making sure vents are open. Beyond that, furnace repair involves gas lines, high-voltage electricity, and combustion safety — all of which require training and proper tools. A botched DIY repair on a gas furnace can cause carbon monoxide leaks, gas explosions, or electrical fires. For your family's safety, leave internal furnace repairs to licensed professionals.

Question 23

Why is my furnace leaking water?

Accepted Answer

Water around your furnace usually means you have a high-efficiency condensing furnace (90%+ AFUE) and the condensate drain is clogged, cracked, or disconnected. These furnaces produce condensation as a byproduct of extracting extra heat from exhaust gases. A clogged drain line, failed condensate pump, or cracked collector box are the common culprits. Less commonly, a conventional furnace can leak water from a poorly fitted flue pipe causing condensation to drip back down.

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