Furnace & Heating Repair in San Antonio
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Short winters, sharp cold snaps
San Antonio is a cooling town, but it still freezes. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals show about 14 nights a year at or below freezing, mostly in December, January and February, and the National Weather Service puts the average first freeze around late November. Heating systems sit idle for most of the year, so the first cold night is when a dirty flame sensor, a weak igniter or a failed blower shows up.
Many San Antonio-area homes heat with electricity, through a heat pump or electric strips in the air handler, while others use a gas furnace. An HVAC contractor can work on either; tell us which you have when you request a quote. If you have a heat pump, see heat pump repair and installation.
Carbon monoxide safety
If a CO alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. EPA lists leaking furnaces and back-drafting from furnaces and water heaters among its sources, and early symptoms such as headache, dizziness and nausea can feel like the flu. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates 238 non-fire CO poisoning deaths a year on average (2020–2022), and about 28% in 2022 were tied to heating appliances.
- CPSC recommends CO alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas.
- CPSC also urges an annual professional inspection of fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces.
- If you smell an electrical burning odor, shut the system off at the thermostat and the breaker.
Common furnace and heat problems
- No heat at all: check that the thermostat is set to Heat, the breaker is on and the filter isn’t clogged before calling.
- Burner lights, then shuts off: often a flame sensor or ignition problem for an HVAC contractor to diagnose.
- Blower runs but air is cool: could be ignition, gas supply, or on electric systems the heat strips.
- Burning smell on the first cold day: dust burning off the heat exchanger or strips is common briefly; a smell that persists, or an electrical odor, means shut it off and call.
- Short cycling or high bills: airflow, filter or thermostat issues, or an aging system.
Heating season timing
Searches for furnace and heating repair in San Antonio climb from September through January. ENERGY STAR recommends a heating check-up in the fall, so October or early November, before the first freeze, is a good time to book. Many homeowners pair it with a spring AC maintenance visit.
Lessons from the February 2021 storm
In February 2021, San Antonio International Airport fell to 9 °F on February 15 during a 9-day run of freezing days, according to the National Weather Service, and KSAT reported that more than 300,000 people in Bexar County lost power. Heat pumps work hardest in rare hard freezes like that one, and no furnace or heat pump runs without power. Practical steps before winter: get the fall check-up, replace the filter, test CO alarms, and know where your breaker panel and gas shutoff are. For heat pump owners, our post on heat pumps in a Texas freeze explains what to expect.
What heating repair costs
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Service call / diagnostic | $75–$200 (San Antonio guides: about $75–$150) |
| Furnace repair | $300–$1,200 |
| Furnace replacement | $2,800–$7,500 |
| AC + furnace replacement, San Antonio (3 tons, minimum efficiency) | $9,000–$12,000 |
| Heat pump, installed | $5,000–$15,000 (San Antonio 3-ton with air handler: $9,000–$12,000) |
| After-hours / weekend | often 2–3× the normal rate, about $150–$300 per hour |
Typical ranges from published cost guides (2024–2026) — estimates, not quotes. National figures unless marked San Antonio. See the full San Antonio AC & HVAC cost guide.
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement for a furnace more than 15 years old.
Before you hire
- Get the company’s TDLR license number (it looks like TACLA… or TACLB…, ending in E or C for home AC) and look it up at the TDLR license search. Texas rules require that number on the company’s ads, both sides of its vehicles, proposals and invoices (16 TAC §75.71).
- The technician should be TDLR-registered or certified, and EPA Section 608 certified to handle refrigerant.
- A replacement needs a city mechanical permit in San Antonio, and suburbs should be checked. The contractor pulls it; in San Antonio, CPS Energy rebates require the permit number.
- Ask for a load calculation (Manual J) before replacing equipment.
- Get a written, itemized quote with model and serial numbers. Ask whether the diagnostic fee is credited to the repair and what the after-hours rate is.
- Get 2–3 quotes.
- If a CO alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911.
More detail: how to compare HVAC companies in San Antonio. This is general information, not legal advice.
Heating repair quotes across the area
Comparing companies? See HVAC companies in San Antonio: how to compare and choose and how to check a Texas HVAC license.
Heating repair FAQ
How much does furnace repair cost in San Antonio?
Published cost guides put typical furnace repairs at $300–$1,200, plus a service call or diagnostic fee of about $75–$200. Furnace replacement runs $2,800–$7,500. After-hours visits on a cold night often cost 2–3 times the normal rate. These are estimates, not quotes; ask for a written price before work starts.
What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Leave the house right away with everyone in it and call 911. Do not stay to look for the source. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so the alarm may be your only warning. After emergency responders clear the home, have a qualified HVAC contractor inspect the furnace and venting before using it again.
When should I get my heater checked in San Antonio?
ENERGY STAR recommends a heating check-up in the fall. In San Antonio the first freeze averages around late November, and the coldest nights cluster in December through February, so October or early November is a good window. Heating repair searches climb from September through January, and contractors get busy on the first cold snap.
Should I repair or replace an old furnace?
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement when a furnace is more than 15 years old. A cracked heat exchanger, repeated repairs or a repair quote approaching the cost of a new unit are other signs. Furnace replacement typically costs $2,800–$7,500 according to published cost guides, so compare repair and replacement quotes side by side.
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