HVAC Repair in Bellingham, WA
If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Whatcom County will get in touch.
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Heat runs all year here, with almost no break
Bellingham needs heat every month. Winter nights from December through February average 27°F, and summer afternoons only reach 68°F. There's no real stretch where the furnace gets to rest. Even in the warmer months it can still call for heat.
That kind of year-round demand wears on the parts that make heat. The igniter cycles on and off more times over a year here than it would somewhere with a real summer. The blower motor runs almost constantly to move that heat through the house. Almost half of homes here heat with electricity, so when the power goes out, the heat goes with it. Across Washington, close to a quarter of households lost power for a full day or more in 2024. If your heat drops out along with the lights, that's why.
- 27°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 68°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
Washington requires contractors to register with the state.
That registration puts the business on file with the state. It does not mean anyone tested the contractor's work. Washington does not require an HVAC trade exam before a business can register, so the record tells you the business is on file, not that the state checked what it does.
On a heating and cooling repair, registration is what exists here. There is no state license behind it and no exam standing behind the number. That is the protection Washington offers on this job.
Source: Washington State Legislature
- Why is my heat not working?
- Start with the thermostat. Make sure it's set to heat and set a few degrees above room temperature, and check if it takes batteries. If the thermostat looks right, check the breaker for the furnace or air handler, since a tripped breaker will cut power without any other warning. A furnace that won't light at all often has a bad igniter or a flame sensor that needs cleaning, and both are common repairs. If you hear the system trying to start but it shuts off after a few seconds, that's usually the flame sensor telling the control board something is wrong, and it needs a contractor to look at it. With winter nights here dropping to 27°F, don't wait on this one.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- If the blower is running but the air isn't cold, check the air filter first. A filter clogged with dust chokes off airflow across the coil, and that alone can stop a system from cooling. Next check the outdoor unit and make sure nothing is blocking it, like grass clippings or a fence panel too close. If the filter is clean and the outdoor unit is clear but the air still isn't cold, the coil may be low on refrigerant, and that's not something to top off yourself. Summer afternoons here only average 68°F, so most homes get by without central air at all, which is worth knowing before spending money chasing a cooling problem in a house that may not need one.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Check the thermostat settings and batteries first, since a dead battery or a setting bumped to the wrong mode causes more no-heat calls than people expect. Check the breaker panel for anything tripped. Look at the air filter and replace it if it's gray or clogged, since a blocked filter can make a working system act like a broken one. If the outdoor unit or the furnace's intake and exhaust vents have anything piled against them, clear it. If you've checked all that and the system still isn't heating or running right, a contractor will need to diagnose it, and telling them what you already checked saves time on the visit.