It lights, then shuts off
The classic cause is a flame sensor coated with a thin film. It stops seeing the flame and shuts the furnace down as a safety measure. Cleaning it takes about 20 minutes. A weak ignitor is the next suspect.
Furnace Repair in Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield furnaces work less than most, which is exactly why they fail when you finally need them. A furnace that sat idle through a long summer has dust in the burners, a coated flame sensor and an ignitor that has not been tested since March.
We repair furnaces, find the real cause, and give you the price before any work begins, and we offer annual furnace maintenance to catch these problems early. Emergency heating service is available 24/7.
The price in plain numbers
Most Bakersfield furnace repairs run about $230 to $500, with major repairs such as a heat exchanger or gas valve running $900 to $1,850. A diagnostic service call is typically $79 to $119.
Cleaning a flame sensor sits at the low end. The full breakdown is in our furnace repair pricing guide.
Examples of our work
When to stop and make a call right away
Turn the furnace off and get help immediately if:
- You smell gas. Leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Do not touch switches or use a phone inside.
- A carbon monoxide detector sounds. Get everyone outside and call 911.
- There is a burning odor that does not fade, or soot around the furnace.
- You hear loud banging or grinding.
Every level of your home and the area near bedrooms should have a working carbon monoxide detector, with new batteries each fall. The CPSC carbon monoxide guide explains what to do.
What goes wrong with furnaces in Bakersfield
Nothing happens at all
Could be the thermostat, a tripped breaker or limit switch, a blown control board fuse, a failed ignitor or a gas supply issue. It takes a diagnosis to tell.
Runs, but the air is cool
A failing ignitor, a tripped limit switch from poor airflow, or a gas valve issue.
Turns on and off every few minutes
A dirty filter, blocked registers, a failing control board or a blower problem.
Blower will not run
A failed capacitor is the cheaper fix. A failed blower motor is the bigger one.
New noises
Rattling, squealing or banging can mean a loose blower wheel, worn bearings or duct expansion.
Furnace maintenance: what a yearly checkup is for
A furnace tune up is not a formality. In a place where the furnace runs so rarely, it finds the things that quietly go wrong between seasons.
We see the most maintenance requests in September and October, before the first cold snap, and that is the right time.
A good furnace checkup covers the ignition and flame sensor, burners, the blower and its motor, airflow and the filter, the venting and flue, the thermostat, gas connections for leaks, and an inspection of the heat exchanger, which is the part that keeps combustion gases out of your living space.
We tell you in writing what we found and what is worth watching. See our furnace repair pricing guide for typical costs.
How a furnace repair visit goes
- You describe what the furnace is doing. When it stopped and what it sounds or smells like.
- We check the basics. Thermostat, filter, power, gas supply and airflow at the registers.
- We test the sequence. We watch the ignition cycle, check the flame sensor, pressure switch, limit switch, inducer motor, blower and control board, and look for signs of a cracked heat exchanger or blocked venting.
- We tell you what we found. What failed, why, and whether anything related is worn.
- You choose. Repair options and prices come before any work, and if the furnace is old and the repair is large, we give you a replacement price as well.
- We repair it and run it. We confirm a full heating cycle works safely before we leave.
Furnace repair prices in Bakersfield
| Repair | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Service call (Bakersfield) | $79 to $119 |
| Average common repair (Bakersfield) | $230 to $500 |
| Average major repair (Bakersfield) | $900 to $1,850 |
| Flame sensor cleaning | $120 to $220 |
| Ignitor replacement | $220 to $450 |
| Pressure switch replacement | $210 to $420 |
| Blower motor replacement | $550 to $1,100 |
| Draft inducer motor | $450 to $950 |
| Gas valve replacement | $500 to $1,100 |
| Control board replacement | $450 to $950 |
| Heat exchanger replacement | $1,200 to $2,400 |
These are typical ranges across our service areas.
Fix it or replace it?
Replacement is worth pricing when several of these are true:
- The furnace is 15 or more years old.
- A technician finds a cracked or leaking heat exchanger. A furnace with one should not be used.
- It has needed repeated repairs in the last two years.
- Heating bills are rising or some rooms stay cold.
- Your air conditioner is also old and you want one system for both.
A rough check: multiply the repair cost by the furnace's age in years. If the answer is well over $5,000, replacement usually wins.
See furnace installation in Bakersfield and heat pump installation in Bakersfield.
What to leave to a technician
Changing the filter, checking thermostat batteries and keeping the area around the furnace clear are all fine. Do not open the burner compartment, adjust gas valves, remove safety switches or bypass any control.
Those parts handle gas and combustion, and a mistake can be dangerous. If a safety switch keeps tripping, there is a reason, and the fix is to find it.
Where we repair furnaces in Bakersfield
We serve homes across Bakersfield, including Seven Oaks, Stockdale Estates, Olde Stockdale, Rosedale, Riverlakes, Brimhall, Westchester and Oleander, and the southwest and northwest parts of town. Our office is at 1430 Truxtun Ave Unit 792, Bakersfield, CA 93301.
See HVAC in Bakersfield for rules and rebates.
Brands we service
We repair and install all major brands. Each brand page lists the models we install, the problems we see most and what the warranty typically covers. See how we match a technician to your brand.
Bakersfield, CA on the map
Common questions
How much does furnace repair cost in Bakersfield?
Most repairs run about $230 to $500. Major repairs such as a heat exchanger or gas valve run $900 to $1,850. The diagnostic call is typically $79 to $119.
When should I schedule furnace maintenance?
In September or October, before the first cold snap. A furnace that sat idle all summer needs checking before you depend on it.
Why does my furnace light and then shut off?
Most often a dirty flame sensor, which stops detecting the flame. Sometimes a weak ignitor or a limit switch tripping from low airflow. Call us if replacing the filter does not help.
Is a burning smell on the first heat of the season normal?
Dust burning off is normal for the first run. A smell that keeps going, or smells like gas or burning plastic, is not. Turn it off and call.
Should I replace a 20 year old furnace?
Not automatically. If it works and has no safety problems, repair may be fine. If it needs repeated repairs or has a cracked heat exchanger, replacement makes sense. We give you both prices.
Do you offer emergency heating repair?
Yes, 24/7.
Is a heat pump a good alternative in Bakersfield?
Often, since winters are mild and a heat pump also cools. We check your panel and ducts first. See heat pump installation in Bakersfield.
Talk to a person
Call any hour for emergency service, or reach us during business hours for a visit or a quote.