In Newark, the two calls we get most are an air conditioner that will not cool and a furnace that will not heat. Bay breezes keep much of the summer mild, so the AC can sit unused for weeks and then run all afternoon during a warm spell, and equipment that sits idle tends to show its problems on that first hot day. Furnaces carry the load on chilly nights from November to March. Most Newark homes are single-family houses built between the 1950s and the 1980s, with a forced-air furnace, central air added at some point, and ducts in the attic or crawlspace.
AC repair in Newark
Because air conditioners here work in bursts, the failures we find are usually the ones that build up while the system sits:
- Capacitors and contactors. A weak capacitor can hold out through mild weeks and give up when the system has to run hard. The usual sign: the outdoor unit hums but the fan does not spin.
- Dirty or blocked outdoor coils. Leaves, dust and plants packed around the outdoor unit keep it from shedding heat, so the system runs long and the house stays warm.
- Condensate drains. Algae and dust clog the drain line, and a safety switch then shuts the system off to keep water off the ceiling or floor.
- Slow refrigerant leaks. Ice on the copper line or the indoor coil and very long run times point to low charge, which means a leak to find, not just refrigerant to add.
Before you call, check that the thermostat is set to Cool, the filter is not clogged and the breakers for the indoor and outdoor units are on. If the outdoor unit hums without the fan turning, switch the system off; running it that way can damage the compressor. More on our Newark AC repair page and the main AC repair page.
Older systems may still use R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced in the US. If one of those has a leak, compare the repair with a new air conditioner or a heat pump before paying for refrigerant.
Furnace repair in Newark
What fails depends a lot on the age of the furnace:
- Older furnaces with a standing pilot. A small flame burns all the time and a thermocouple proves it is lit. When the pilot keeps going out, the thermocouple, a dirty pilot assembly or a draft is the usual cause.
- Furnaces with electronic ignition. An igniter lights the burners and a flame sensor confirms the flame. A furnace that lights and shuts off after a few seconds usually has a dirty flame sensor; one that clicks and never lights points to the igniter, the inducer motor or the pressure switch.
- Any furnace. A clogged filter or closed vents make the furnace overheat and shut down on its limit switch, blowing cool air between short cycles. A blinking light on the control board is a fault code that tells the technician where to start.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company from outside before calling us. For no heat on a cold night, a burning smell or a breaker that keeps tripping, see emergency HVAC in Newark. More detail on Newark furnace repair, our main furnace repair page and heat pump repair.
HVAC maintenance: spring for cooling, fall for heating
One visit before each season catches most of the problems above before they leave you without heat or cooling:
- Spring AC maintenance: clean the outdoor coil, flush the condensate drain, test the capacitor and contactor, measure the temperature drop across the indoor coil and check the refrigerant charge.
- Fall furnace maintenance: clean the flame sensor or check the pilot, inspect the burners and venting, test the safety switches and the blower, and check the filter.
Our Newark HVAC maintenance page and the main HVAC maintenance page explain what a visit covers.
What to expect from an HVAC company
Whoever you call, these are fair things to ask for. With us you get:
- Licensed, bonded and insured service, with EPA-certified technicians for refrigerant work.
- A diagnosis and an upfront price before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
- Factory certified parts and a 90-day workmanship warranty on repairs; parts follow the manufacturer’s warranty.
- A free in-home estimate for a new system.
- Same-day service when possible, phone support 24/7 and no overtime charges for evenings or weekends.
We service all major brands, including Carrier, Rheem, Goodman and Lennox.
Upgrades that fit a mild climate
When cooling is only needed on some days, a smart thermostat that follows your schedule and lets you start the AC from your phone before you get home makes sense. When a furnace and AC reach the end of their life, a heat pump heats and cools with one system, and a mini-split can cool a single room without new ductwork. For dust or allergies, see indoor air quality and duct cleaning, and our smart home guides cover thermostat options.
Zip code and nearby cities
We serve all of Newark, zip code 94560, from our office in Fremont, and we also cover Milpitas.