Repair or Replace an Old Furnace in Yakima

Theisen's own website points out that Yakima has an average low of 24 degrees Fahrenheit during some of the winter months. That is not a temperature to spend in a house without heat. Most people think about replacing a furnace only after it quits. A better time to think about it is now, while you can compare options and nobody is shivering.

Signs an old furnace is near the end

No single sign settles it, but a pile of them usually points one direction.

• It runs almost all the time and the house still feels chilly. Richard Smith wrote that his furnace was “running all the time and the house was chilly” until Theisen's owner found problems with the installation and fixed them. Sometimes the cause is repairable.
• It has needed repairs several times in a short stretch. One renter wrote that the oil furnace in her house dated from the 1950s and was “constantly going out.”
• You see rust, soot, scorch marks, or water around it.
• Rooms heat unevenly, or you hear new banging, rattling, or squealing.
• A technician has found something unsafe. Dave Johnson wrote that a check-up with Theisen revealed a fire hazard with his original heater, and the company replaced the heater and the A/C, “professionally, on-time and within budget.”

Oil furnaces are their own case

Some Yakima houses still heat with oil. Caralee Thomason wrote that her oil furnace failed while she was selling her house, with subzero temperatures in the forecast. Theisen got a new furnace ordered, installed, and working in time. She called it a rescue of the sale. The lesson is about lead time. If equipment has to be ordered, the sooner you call, the more options you have. Michele M. described a different kind of help: before buying a house with an old oil furnace, she phoned Theisen and they spent ten minutes answering her questions. She did not even end up buying the house.

When a repair is the right call

Not every old furnace needs to go. A failed valve, a worn igniter, or a bad control board does not mean the whole machine is finished. Michelle Holliday had Theisen look at the furnace in her Yakima rental. They ordered a replacement valve, returned to install it, and cleaned the unit, with “no attempt to up-sell me or take advantage.” Nicki G. wrote of a Theisen tech, “If he cannot repair it, he will tell you.” That is the standard to look for: an honest answer in either direction.

As a general rule, the older the furnace and the more often it fails, the less sense it makes to keep paying for parts. Ask the tech which parts are likely to go next. Ask for the repair cost and the replacement bid side by side, so you are comparing real numbers instead of a feeling.

Get a second opinion when the news is big

If one company tells you the furnace is finished, it is fair to ask another. Christina M. wrote that after another contractor's inspection list, Theisen “said several of the items listed from the other contractor were not necessary.” Roberta M. wrote that the company “didn't try to sell us an AC that was more than we needed.” Good contractors expect you to compare.

What a good replacement bid should include

• The make and model of the equipment, in writing, not just a brand name.
• What happens to the old unit. Bill C. wrote that the crew cleaned up and hauled off the old equipment.
• Any work on the vent, the flue, the electrical supply, and the thermostat.
• Any ductwork changes, or a clear statement that none are planned.
• Who handles permits and the city inspection, if the job needs them. Chris Gordon wrote that Theisen “held our hand through the city inspector process.”
• The warranty terms, a start date, and how long the job should take.
• A total for the job, not a ballpark. Sue Stephenson wrote that the owner “took the time to explain what I needed while providing several different options.” Several options, clearly explained, is a good sign.

If you are a landlord or selling a house

Landlords and sellers work on a clock. A tenant with no heat in January, or a buyer's inspection with a failing furnace, can't wait three weeks. V. Allan Simond wrote that he uses Theisen for the HVAC in his rental units, his siblings' homes, and his own, and that on a 15-degree day “they were here within hours of my call.” Marcos Ramos wrote that Theisen got to a rental with no heat and fixed it when “nobody else could.”

If you are selling, keep your furnace service records together and bring any inspection report when you call. A tech can tell you which items are safety concerns and which are just notes. Sellers and buyers both do better with that information early.

Ask before the cold arrives

Theisen serves Yakima, Selah, Moxee, Wapato, Naches, Parker, Ahtanum, and West Valley, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5. If your furnace is old, noisy, or just worrying you, call (509) 452-4787 and ask for a look before the cold weather gets here.