Heating repair · Rensselaer, NY
Furnace, Boiler and Heat Pump Repair in Rensselaer, NY
Repair and service for gas and oil furnaces, hot water and steam boilers, and cold-climate heat pumps.
What we fix
Furnaces
Igniters, flame sensors, inducer motors, pressure switches, blower motors, control boards and limit switches on gas and oil furnaces. Heat exchanger and venting inspections.
Boilers
Hot water and steam boilers: circulator pumps, zone valves, expansion tanks, relief valves, low-water cutoffs and oil burners. Older Rensselaer houses run on a lot of these.
Heat pumps
Defrost faults, reversing valves, outdoor fan motors and refrigerant leaks, plus sizing and installing cold-climate heat pumps.
Thermostats
Wiring fixes, replacements and smart thermostat setup, including dual-fuel and heat pump systems that need the right settings.
Check these before you call
- The thermostat is on Heat and set above the room temperature.
- The furnace or boiler service switch (it looks like a light switch) is on.
- The furnace filter is not clogged.
- Oil heat: there is oil in the tank.
- Boiler: note the pressure gauge reading so you can tell us.
Heating questions
Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
Check the thermostat first: the fan should be on Auto, not On, or the blower will push room-temperature air between heat cycles. If it is set right, the common causes are a dirty flame sensor that shuts the burners off seconds after they light, a failed hot surface igniter, a clogged filter tripping the high limit, or a condensate drain on a high-efficiency furnace that has backed up and opened a safety switch.
Why are some radiators hot and others cold?
On a hot water system, cold radiators or baseboards usually mean trapped air. Bleeding the radiators on the upper floor often fixes it. If it keeps coming back, the system may have low pressure, a failing circulator pump or a stuck zone valve. On steam systems, a stuck air vent on one radiator does the same thing.
What does it mean when my boiler pressure is high?
Most residential hot water boilers run around 12 to 15 psi cold and under about 25 psi hot. Pressure climbing toward 30 psi, where the relief valve opens, usually points to a waterlogged expansion tank or a fill valve that will not shut. Water dripping from the relief valve pipe is the sign. Do not cap that pipe. Call.
Can a heat pump heat a house in the Capital Region?
Yes, if it is a cold-climate model sized for the house. Look for equipment that meets the Energy Star cold-climate criteria. Many older Rensselaer homes are drafty, so we look at the house and the existing heat before recommending one and talk through whether it is a good fit.
How often should a furnace or boiler be serviced?
Once a year, in the fall before the first cold snap. A cleaning and safety check covers the burners, flame sensor or nozzle, heat exchanger, venting, pressure and controls. It is a good time to catch worn parts before the coldest weeks.
What should I do if I smell gas or my CO alarm goes off?
Get everyone outside first. Do not use switches, the thermostat or a phone inside. From outside, call 911 or your gas utility (National Grid serves most of Rensselaer). Once it has been made safe, call us to find the cause. New York requires working CO alarms under Amanda’s Law.
