HVAC Repair in Binghamton, NY
Homes here need heat from September through May and cooling from July through August. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Broome County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Nine months of heat, two months of cooling, and not much rest in between
Your furnace runs from September through May here. Winter nights average 18°F from December through February, so on the coldest nights the burner is cycling on and off for hours to keep up. Each start puts a little more wear on the igniter, and once it can't light the burner, the house goes cold with no warning.
July and August bring afternoons near 79°F, and that is when the compressor works hardest. A system that only has two months to prove itself often shows its weak points right when you need it most, a capacitor that has been failing slowly finally gives out on the hottest day. Broome County has logged 18 winter storms and 248 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and storms like that knock out power. Most furnaces and air conditioners need that power back to restart on their own. If yours does not come back on once the lights do, that is worth a call.
- 9 months
- September through May, your system heats
- 2 months
- July through August, it cools
- 18°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 79°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new furnace and air conditioner would cut about $190 a year off heating and cooling for a typical Broome County home.
Estimates for a typical Broome County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, New York fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when one part has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the furnace's heat exchanger is cracked, the air conditioner's compressor has failed, or repairs keep coming.
- Why is my heat not working?
- Start with the thermostat and the power to the furnace before you assume the worst. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and a few degrees above room temperature, and check the breaker and any switch that looks like a light switch near the furnace, since that shuts off power to it. If the furnace runs on gas, make sure the gas valve is open. Winter nights here average 18°F, so a furnace that will not start needs attention quickly rather than waiting it out.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- A system that runs but does not cool is often blocked, not broken. Check the air filter first, since a clogged one chokes off airflow across the coil and can ice it over. Look at the outdoor unit too, and clear away any grass, leaves, or debris sitting against it. If the filter is clean and the outdoor unit is clear and the house still is not cooling, the problem is inside the system and needs a contractor to look at it.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Check the thermostat settings, the batteries in it if it uses them, and the breaker for the system before calling anyone. Check the air filter, since a dirty one causes both heating and cooling problems and is the easiest thing to fix yourself. If the outdoor unit is involved, make sure nothing is blocking it. If everything there checks out and the system still is not working right, a contractor will need to look at the parts inside it that are not safe or simple to check yourself.