If your furnace stopped working in the middle of a cold Richmond TX night, the first thing to know is this: you are not alone, and in most cases, the fix is faster than you think.
Before you panic or spend money on a service call, there are several things you can check yourself in the next 15 minutes. Some of them are simple enough that you will have heat again before the tech even picks up the phone.
But some furnace problems are not safe to troubleshoot on your own. This guide will walk you through both so you know exactly when to handle it yourself and when to call a professional.
If you already know you need help, call Temper Mechanical right now at (346) 485-8142. We offer same-day furnace repair in Richmond TX and serve Sugar Land, Rosenberg, Pecan Grove, and all of Fort Bend County.
Safety First: Check for Carbon Monoxide Before Anything Else
This is not optional. Before you start poking around your furnace, take 30 seconds to do this.
If you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, check it right now. If it is going off, get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911 from outside. Do not go back in.
If you smell rotten eggs or sulfur near your furnace, that is a gas leak. Leave the house, leave the door open, do not turn any lights on or off, and call your gas company from the street.
If neither of those things is happening, you are safe to continue troubleshooting. Keep reading.
Step 1: Check Your Thermostat
You would be surprised how often this is the culprit. It sounds too simple, but it is the first thing every HVAC technician checks when they arrive at a job.
Go to your thermostat and confirm three things. First, make sure it is set to “Heat” and not “Cool” or “Fan Only.” Second, make sure the temperature is set at least 3 to 5 degrees above the current room temperature. If your house is 68 degrees and the thermostat is set to 68, the furnace has no reason to turn on. Third, if your thermostat runs on batteries, replace them. A low battery signal will sometimes not appear on screen but can still cause the thermostat to stop sending signals to your furnace.
If you recently replaced your thermostat or had any electrical work done, there is a chance the wiring came loose. That is a job for a professional.
Step 2: Check the Circuit Breaker
Your furnace runs on electricity even if it is a gas unit. The blower motor, ignition system, and control board all need power to function.
Go to your electrical panel and look for the breaker labeled “Furnace” or “HVAC” or “Air Handler.” If it is sitting in the middle position between on and off, it has tripped. Switch it all the way to off first, then firmly switch it back to on.
If the breaker trips again within a few minutes of the furnace running, stop there and call us. A repeatedly tripping breaker means there is an electrical problem that needs a professional. Continuing to reset it can cause damage or create a fire hazard.
Step 3: Check the Furnace Power Switch
Most furnaces have a dedicated power switch on the unit itself. It looks exactly like a regular light switch and is usually mounted on the wall near the furnace or on the side of the unit.
It gets switched off accidentally more often than you would think. Someone cleaning, a child playing nearby, or a previous technician who forgot to turn it back on. Check it and make sure it is in the on position.
Step 4: Check Your Air Filter
A clogged air filter can cause your furnace to overheat and shut itself off as a safety measure. When this happens, the furnace will not turn back on until it cools down, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Pull your filter out and hold it up to a light. If you cannot see any light passing through it, it is clogged and needs to be replaced. A fresh filter costs $10 to $20 at any hardware store. Put a new one in, give the furnace 30 minutes to cool down, then try turning it back on.
As a rule of thumb, filters in Richmond TX homes should be changed every 1 to 2 months during heavy use seasons. Fort Bend County’s humidity means your filter collects more debris than homes in drier climates.
Step 5: Check the Pilot Light (Older Furnaces Only)
If your furnace was installed before 2010, it likely has a standing pilot light. Look through the small viewing window on your furnace. There should be a small blue flame burning.
If the pilot light is out, you can relight it yourself. Your furnace should have relighting instructions printed on a label near the pilot. The process generally involves turning the gas valve to “Pilot,” holding it down while you light the flame, holding it for 30 seconds, then turning the valve to “On.”
If the pilot light goes out repeatedly, the thermocouple may be faulty. That is a $20 part but the replacement requires a technician. If you smell gas during this process, stop immediately and call your gas company.
Newer furnaces use electronic ignition instead of a pilot light. If yours does and the ignition is failing, you will hear a clicking sound but the burners will not light. That is a job for a professional.
Step 6: Check the Condensate Drain Line
Modern high-efficiency furnaces produce condensation as a byproduct of heating. This condensation drains through a small PVC pipe. If that pipe gets clogged, a float switch shuts the furnace off automatically to prevent water damage.
Look near the base of your furnace for a small drip pan or PVC drain line. If there is standing water in the pan, the drain is clogged. You can try clearing it with a wet vacuum or by blowing through the drain line gently. If the pan is empty and your furnace still will not start, the drain is not the issue.
When You Definitely Need a Professional
If you have worked through every step above and your furnace still will not turn on, it is time to call. Here are the specific situations where a professional is required no matter what.
Your heat exchanger is cracked. This is a serious safety issue. A cracked heat exchanger leaks combustion gases including carbon monoxide into your living space. Signs include unusual odors, soot around the furnace, or a carbon monoxide detector going off. Do not run the furnace and call us immediately.
Your gas valve is faulty. If you have confirmed your gas supply is on but the burners will not light, the gas valve may have failed. This requires a licensed technician to diagnose and replace.
Your control board has failed. The control board is the brain of your furnace. When it fails, nothing works. You may see error codes flashing on your furnace display. A technician can read those codes in minutes and tell you exactly what is wrong.
Your blower motor has stopped. If you hear the furnace click on but no air comes out of your vents, the blower motor may have failed. This is a repair that typically costs $300 to $600 and requires professional tools to complete.
For any of these situations, call our team at (346) 485-8142. We provide emergency heater repair in Richmond TX and can usually get to you the same day.
How Much Does Furnace Repair Cost in Richmond TX?
Here are honest numbers based on what we see every week in Fort Bend County.
Diagnostic fee: $75 to $100. Most companies, including us, apply this toward the repair cost if you proceed.
Igniter replacement: $150 to $300. One of the most common repairs on furnaces over 7 years old.
Thermocouple replacement: $100 to $200.
Blower motor replacement: $300 to $600 depending on the motor type.
Control board replacement: $400 to $900.
Gas valve replacement: $300 to $600.
Heat exchanger replacement: $1,000 to $2,000. At this price point, we will always give you an honest comparison against the cost of a new furnace so you can make the best decision for your budget.
Check our current heating repair special before you call. We regularly run discounts for Richmond TX homeowners.
Repair vs Replace: How to Know Which Makes More Sense
The honest answer depends on two things: the age of your furnace and the cost of the repair.
Use what technicians call the 5,000 rule. Multiply the age of your furnace by the estimated repair cost. If that number is over 5,000, replacement is generally the better investment.
For example: a 12-year-old furnace needing a $500 repair. 12 x 500 = 6,000. In this case, putting that $500 toward a new unit makes more financial sense, especially when you factor in that an aging furnace loses efficiency and will likely need more repairs within the next 1 to 2 years.
If your furnace is under 10 years old and the repair is under $600, repair is almost always the right call.
We will give you both numbers when we arrive and let you decide. No pressure, no upselling.
What About Your Warranty?
If your furnace is under 10 years old, check whether it is still under manufacturer warranty before agreeing to any repairs. Most furnace brands offer 5 to 10 year parts warranties.
Important: many warranties require that repairs be done by a licensed HVAC contractor. DIY repairs or unlicensed technicians can void your warranty entirely. Keep records of all maintenance and service visits as warranty claims sometimes require proof of regular service.
If you are unsure whether your unit is under warranty, give us the model and serial number when you call and we will look it up for you.
Why Richmond TX Homeowners Call Temper Mechanical
We are a family-owned HVAC company based right here in Richmond TX. When you call us, you get a real person who knows Fort Bend County, not a call center routing you to a random technician.
Our team carries the most common furnace parts on every truck so we can usually complete repairs in a single visit. We give you the price before we start any work. And we stand behind everything we do.
Here is what Ian Eckler, one of our customers in Richmond TX, had to say:
“Terry was very professional and prompt. We called about an issue around 4pm and they sent Terry out the same day to diagnose it. He got the parts the following morning and was finished within 30 minutes of arriving. We had our heat back before noon.”
That is what we aim for on every single job.
We currently hold a 4.9 star rating from 165 Google reviews. You can read them all on our HVAC company page.
We also serve Sugar Land TX and Pecan Grove with the same same-day commitment.
Call Temper Mechanical Right Now
If your furnace will not turn on and you have worked through this guide without a fix, do not wait. Richmond TX winters are mild compared to the north but a cold house is still a health risk, especially for children, elderly family members, and pets.
Call us now: (346) 485-8142
We answer 7 days a week. Same-day service available throughout Richmond TX, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, Pecan Grove, and Fort Bend County.
Not ready to call? Fill out our contact form at tempermechanical.com/contact and we will call you back within 15 minutes.
Temper Mechanical Air and Heat LLC | 6115 FM 762 Rd Suite 1200, Richmond TX 77469 | (346) 485-8142