Texas cold snaps hit fast and hard. When your heater won't turn on, Katy AC Pros gets it running — same-day service for gas furnaces, electric heat, and heat pumps.
Call (281) 698-0650Katy doesn't get long, brutal winters — but when Arctic fronts push through, temperatures can drop from 70°F to 25°F in a matter of hours. After Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and subsequent hard freezes, Katy homeowners learned the hard way that heating systems need to work when called upon, even if that's only a few weeks per year.
The challenge is that Katy furnaces sit idle for 8-9 months. Dust accumulates, connections corrode, ignition components degrade, and sometimes critters find their way into ductwork or around the unit. When the first hard freeze arrives and every home in Katy fires up the heat simultaneously, the systems that haven't been maintained are the ones that fail.
Ignition Failures: Modern gas furnaces use hot surface igniters or electronic spark ignition rather than standing pilot lights. These components have a 3-5 year lifespan and typically fail after sitting idle all summer. If your furnace clicks but doesn't light, or if it lights briefly and shuts off, the igniter likely needs replacement. This is a straightforward, same-day repair.
Thermostat Issues: After months in cooling mode, thermostats sometimes don't switch properly to heating. Symptoms include the system not responding when set to heat, or the fan running without heat output. Sometimes this is a wiring issue between the thermostat and furnace; other times the thermostat itself needs replacement or reprogramming.
Blower Motor Problems: The blower motor handles both heating and cooling airflow. If it struggled during summer AC use, it may fail entirely when winter arrives. Symptoms include weak airflow, unusual noises (squealing, grinding), or the system running but no air moving through vents.
Heat Exchanger Cracks: This is the most serious heating repair issue. A cracked heat exchanger can leak carbon monoxide into your home — an invisible, odorless gas that's extremely dangerous. Warning signs include a yellow or flickering burner flame (should be steady blue), soot around the furnace, or your CO detector alarming. If you suspect a heat exchanger crack, turn off the furnace and call us immediately. We use combustion analysis equipment to detect even small cracks.
Gas Valve and Control Board Failures: The gas valve controls fuel flow to the burners, and the control board manages the entire ignition sequence. When either fails, the furnace won't fire. These are more complex repairs but typically same-day when parts are available.
Many newer Katy homes, particularly in communities like Cross Creek Ranch and Elyson, have heat pump systems rather than traditional gas furnaces. Heat pumps provide both cooling and heating from a single system. They're efficient in Katy's mild winters but can struggle when temperatures drop below 35°F, which is when the auxiliary electric heat strips kick in.
Common heat pump heating issues include the system staying in cooling mode (reversing valve failure), frost buildup on the outdoor unit (defrost cycle problems), or the auxiliary heat not engaging (sequencer or relay failure). Our technicians are trained on all heat pump configurations.
Heating system repairs involve gas lines, high-voltage electrical components, and combustion byproducts. This is not DIY territory. If you smell gas, hear your CO detector alarm, or see signs of combustion problems, turn off the system and call us. We respond to safety-related heating calls with the same urgency as emergency AC repairs.
The most common causes are a dirty air filter restricting airflow (causing the limit switch to trip), a faulty thermostat, a pilot light or igniter failure, or the system running in fan-only mode. Check your thermostat settings and filter first — if those look fine, call us.
Yes. Katy's heating systems sit idle for 8-9 months, allowing dust buildup, corrosion, and pest intrusion. An annual fall inspection catches problems before the first cold night.
A brief burning dust smell when the furnace first runs in fall is normal. If it persists beyond 30 minutes, smells like burning plastic, or you detect a rotten egg/sulfur smell (gas leak), turn off the system immediately and call us.