Furnace Repair in Greensboro, NC
Furnaces here run from October through April. If yours quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Guilford County will get in touch.
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Seven months of heat, and the power doesn't always stay on
Your furnace works from October through April here, seven months of the year. Winter nights average 31°F from December through February, so it is cycling on and off most nights of the week for months at a stretch. Every start puts a little more wear on the igniter and the flame sensor, and that adds up over a winter like Guilford County's.
More than half of homes here heat with electricity, and the power does not always stay on when it is needed most. Guilford County has logged 12 winter storms and 166 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and across North Carolina a quarter of households lost power for a full day or more in 2024. When the power drops on a cold night, a furnace that was already struggling may not start back up on its own.
- 7 months
- October through April, your furnace is on duty
- 31°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 12 winter storms
- in ten years, the nights a failure hurts most
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
North Carolina requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The license comes from the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. The state tests contractors before they can hold one, and the board keeps a record of who does. That license belongs to the contractor, not to any single job, so it stays attached to their name whether they are working on a furnace in Greensboro or High Point.
For a furnace repair, that license is what stands behind the work. Furnace repair means gas lines and burner connections, and a bad connection is what makes the job dangerous. The same license that qualifies a contractor to take the job is the one the state can act against if the work is done wrong.
Sources: North Carolina General Assembly · North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
- Why won't my furnace turn on?
- Most of the time it's the thermostat, a tripped breaker, or the switch on the furnace itself. Check that the thermostat is set below room temperature and has power, then check the breaker panel. Furnaces also have a power switch that looks like a light switch, often near the unit or on it, and it can get bumped off. If those all check out, the igniter or a safety switch inside the furnace may be the problem, and that calls for a contractor to look at it.
- Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
- If air is blowing but it's not warm, the furnace may be running the blower without the burners lighting. That points to an ignition problem or a safety switch shutting off the burners while the fan keeps going. It can also mean the furnace is warming up and the air just hasn't heated yet, which is normal for the first minute or so. If cold air keeps blowing well past that, have a contractor check the ignition system.
- Why won't my furnace pilot light stay lit?
- A pilot light that won't stay lit is usually the thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the flame is on. When it wears out or sits out of position, the gas valve reads no flame and shuts off, even though the pilot was burning. A draft or a dirty pilot opening can cause the same thing. This isn't something to keep relighting on your own since it involves the gas valve, so have a contractor take a look.