Heating

Heating Service in Lompoc

Providing Heating Repair and Replacement Services in Lompoc Since 2016

It can get cold in Lompoc when winter rolls around. And, if you want to live comfortably, you need a reliable, affordable way to heat your home. For many people in our area, that may mean replacing their old furnace or heater with a new one. Unfortunately, like all things, home heating systems don’t last forever—especially without regular maintenance visits from an HVAC professional. They break down and eventually need to be replaced.

In colder months, going without heat isn’t really an option. Beyond comfort, it can mean survival. And, being without heat can also pose a hazard to your house and fixtures. That’s why, when it comes to furnace and heater repairs in Lompoc, you shouldn’t settle for just any Santa Barbara County HVAC contractor. You should call Accurate Heating & Air Conditioning.

For information on the heating services we offer in Lompoc, call (805) 743-3403.

A Layman’s Explanation of How Furnaces Work

Understanding and appreciating your home’s heating system is the first step to getting the most out of it.

A furnace is the indoor piece of HVAC equipment used to distribute heat throughout a home or business. This is accomplished by warming air and then forcing it out to each room. As the heated air is circulated, it raises the temperature until the thermostat tells it to stop. The typical heating cycle goes something like this:

  1. Electricity, heating oil, propane, or natural gas, enters your home from either the utility's network or your home's heating fuel tank.
  2. When the interior of your home starts to cool, the thermostat sends a call for heat to your furnace.
  3. When the furnace is told by the thermostat that heat is needed, the burner ignites the gas in an enclosed metal vessel called a heat exchanger. The fuel byproducts are then expelled through your exhaust vents. This stops potentially toxic gases from mixing with your home’s interior air.
  4. A minute or so after igniting the gas, the blower pulls air into the furnace through your ‘return air’ ductwork, and then pushes it across your furnace's now-hot heat exchanger.
  5. The furnace's heat exchanger transfers the heat from the burning fuel inside it, to the air passing over it.
  6. Your furnace’s blower fan continues to push the warmed air throughout your home until your target temperature is reached.
  7. Once the desired temperature is reached, your thermostat turns off the gas valve and stops the flow of warm air.
Fun Fact: The word furnace is derived from the Latin word fornax, meaning oven. Since propane and gas furnaces weren’t invented until the 1880s, this word predates them by a millennia!

Heating Services We Offer in the Lompoc Area

We take pride in helping people in Santa Barbara County keep warm during the chilliest times of the year. For most people in Lompoc, that means having a furnace they can count on. Below are a few ways Accurate ensures your home stays comfy:

Other Ways We Keep Santa Barbara County Warm

Though furnaces are the most common way to heat your home in Santa Barbara County, it's not the only option. Our HVAC technicians are here to help you find and select the best system for you and your family. Then, once it's installed, our company will continue to service it. If you need help with any of these alternative heating services, just give (805) 743-3403 a call:

Heat Pump Maintenance

Like all HVAC equipment, heat pumps need regular service to maintain optimal performance. For this, we offer an affordable solution in the form of our maintenance program. While there, our technician will verify adequate airflow, check for leaks, and inspect the unit for potential failure points. We'll also make any needed recommendations during the visit. So, if you want your heat pump in Lompoc to last, consider scheduling heat pump maintenance with Accurate.

Maintain Heat Pump

Heat Pump Conversion

Want to save money on your energy bills while saving the planet? Then, you might want to consider replacing your existing AC unit with a greener, more efficient heat pump. The process is simple and can make you eligible for thousands in potential rebates. For more information on making the switch, check out the page linked below. We're proud to offer heat pump conversion throughout the Lompoc area.

Convert to a Heat Pump

What to Look for in a Heating Contractor

Your heating system is a major component of your home’s comfort systems. It represents not only safety in winter but also a significant financial investment. That’s why it’s vital that you select the right person to repair and maintain your furnace , boiler, or heat pump. Here in Lompoc, there are plenty of HVAC companies to choose from. The below characteristics, however, are what separate the pros from more questionable heating contractors:

  1. Current Licensing: In California, only contractors who meet certain training and skill requirements can obtain a license. The presence of a valid license is the best sign of a qualified HVAC contractor in Lompoc. To see if a potential heating company has one, check out their website. If you cannot find a license number, call the business and ask for it.
  2. Comprehensive Insurance: What happens if a Lompoc heating technician makes a mistake while working on your boiler and floods your home? Do you know who pays medical bills if that same person hurts themselves on your property? These two scenarios are why it’s vital that your chosen Lompoc heating company carries up-to-date insurance. This is something we provide to ensure your peace of mind.
  3. Glowing Reviews: Check out a contractor's online review profiles. What do former clients say about them? Do you know anyone who has used them before? If so, ask if they’d refer them for heating repair or installation work in Lompoc. If they have a few negative reviews, don’t write them off. What matters most is how they handled the situation and if they responded in a professional, caring manner.
  4. Experience and Expertise: When it comes to heating service in Santa Maria or Lompoc, experience should top your list of requirements. The more years of experience an HVAC contractor or company has, the better able they are to quickly pinpoint what’s wrong with your heating system. They also tend to be more adaptable and come carrying the right equipment and parts.
  5. Warranties and Guarantees: Things can go wrong with even the newest heating or cooling system. How it's installed can be the cause. That’s why it’s vital to choose a heating company with a comprehensive warranty and guarantee policy. At minimum, your satisfaction should be acknowledged.
  6. Special Offers and Rebates: Check out what kinds of deals the company is offering. Does it align with your current heating needs? If so, print off the coupons and keep them on hand. You can check out our special offers page for discounts.

As you might guess, we possess all of the characteristics above. Reach out to us at (805) 743-3403 to schedule heating service in Santa Maria or Buellton.

Call Accurate Heating & Air Conditioning for Professional Heating Service in Santa Maria and Lompoc

Accurate Heating & Air Conditioning sets itself apart from other heating contractors in the Lompoc area. The first way we do this is by committing ourselves wholly to ensuring you are happy. We’re so confident in our ability to make you smile that we guarantee your satisfaction. From proper system performance to quality workmanship, we hold ourselves to a higher standard. If you ever find yourself disappointed, reach out to (805) 743-3403. We’ll do everything we can to rectify the situation.

So, the next time you need heating service in Lompoc or Buellton, Accurate Heating & Air Conditioning is here for you. From furnace repair to new heater installations, our Lompoc HVAC contractors have the skills you need. Dial (805) 743-3403 to get scheduled and to join our family of happy customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our heating experts work with all brands of HVAC equipment including Coleman, Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Trane, Lennox, Rheem,Ruud, Amana, Daikin, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, Frigidaire, Gibson, Goodman, Maytag, Weil McLain, American Standard, General, and Dynamic.

  • Is power getting to your furnace or heater? Is a fuse or circuit breaker tripped? Make sure your power switch is in the ON position.
  • When was the last time you swapped out your filter? If it’s been a while, try installing a new filter first. This can solve a lot of heating problems.
  • Verify your thermostat is set to “heat” and not “cool”. If you notice the display is dim, try swapping out the batteries on the back of the unit.
  • Is there snow or other debris blocking your outdoor vent? If so, remove the obstruction. This will allow your system to work more effectively.

If you still don’t have heat, it’s time to contact us for Lompoc heating services at (805) 743-3403.

A no-heat call is an industry term referring to a customer with a complete lack of heating power. This is one of the most common calls we get for heating repairs in Lompoc. Their furnace, boiler, or heater is producing no heat whatsoever for one reason or another. Because these scenarios can be uncomfortable, especially in Lompoc's cooler seasons, we prioritize these appointments on our schedules.

First, this is an acronym that stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This rating tells you how effectively a water heater, furnace, or boiler converts its fuel into heat. The higher the number, the more efficient a heating system is. This number is reached by dividing the unit’s annual energy output by its input. The government sets acceptable minimum AFUE standards for equipment subject to periodic review and change.

Which fuel source is best for your home depends on several factors. We’ll briefly compare the two fuel sources across a variety of characteristics:

  • Air Quality: Electric heating systems provide better air quality than their gas counterparts.
  • Safety: No flammables or gasses means less risk to your family.
  • Speed: Gas heaters generally reach temperature quicker.
  • Extreme Weather: If your power’s knocked out by winter weather, electric furnaces can’t function. Gas units can still provide warmth.
  • Lifespan: Electric furnaces in Lompoc last slightly longer than gas ones.
  • Maintenance: Gas furnaces require more maintenance overall.
  • Cost: Electric heaters are less expensive to install but cost more to operate.

Most modern furnaces can’t be set above 90 degrees. This safety measure protects the system by preventing long cycles and overheating. This protects vital components like the heat exchanger. Your heating system likely has a high-limit switch as an additional safety measure. If it detects the furnace's interior is too hot, it will shut the unit off. Most Lompoc HVAC experts recommend setting your thermostat no higher than 78 degrees.

Hotter air can hold more moisture than cold air. So, as it cycles through your home, heated air will pull water from the environment. The combustion process can also lower your home’s relative humidity. It should also be noted that winter is often characterized by dry air. Consider installing a whole house humidifier in Lompoc to make things more comfortable. These systems can be directly integrated with your furnace or other heating system.

Here’s a breakdown of the parts you’ll find in most heating systems in Heating:

  • Blower: This component pushes heated air from your furnace throughout the rest of the home. If this part breaks, you’ll notice the unit is on, but the vents aren’t active.
  • Blower Motor: The blower motor powers the fan in the blower. Without it, the air wouldn’t reach more than a foot or two from the unit.
  • Blower Chamber: That motor generates a lot of force and vibration. This box houses the two parts above and stabilizes them, stopping them from falling off course or rattling apart.
  • Combustion Chamber: This area of the furnace holds the entire firing system. For safety reasons, it’s separate from the blower chamber.
  • Heat Exchanger: This is one of the most important parts of a modern furnace. It’s how you get warm, safe air in your home. The gasses created by the ignition process are piped into the heat exchanger. The excess heat warms this part, transferring that energy to the air flowing outside the exchanger’s walls. Once drained of heat, the combustion gasses are sent out the flue pipe.
  • Burner: Every furnace needs fire to kickstart the heating process. Oxygen meets gas or an electric spark at the burner, and the resulting flame kickstarts the whole heating process.
  • Burner Cover: This small piece of metal covers the flame sensor, blower chamber, and ignitor. Its primary responsibility is keeping flames inside the furnace.
  • Flame Sensor: This part is small but mighty. It detects when the burner catches fire. Typically, it does nothing but wait. If there’s an issue with the burner, however, the sensor will shut the unit off, preventing deadly carbon monoxide leaks.
  • Ignition System: Older furnaces have pilot lights, which are always on and ready to start the system. Newer units—anything made after 2010—have an electronic ignitor. Unlike pilot lights, these systems can’t be blown out by a gust of wind, making them more fault-tolerant.
  • Limit Switch: This sensor reads the temperature inside your furnace. If the unit gets too hot, it’ll shut it off. You can typically find the limit switch under the supply plenum. You may hear it referred to as a fan limit or furnace high limit switch.