HVAC Repair in Niagara Falls, NY
Homes here need heat from October through May and cooling from July through August. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Niagara County will get in touch.
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Eight months of heat, two of cooling, and storms in between
Your furnace runs from October through May here. Winter nights average 21°F, and on the coldest ones the burner cycles on and off for hours trying to keep up. Every cycle is a chance for the igniter to fail or the flame sensor to get dirty enough that the furnace shuts itself down. Most homes here heat with gas, so when that ignition system quits, the house goes cold fast.
Summer is short, just July and August, with afternoons around 79°F. That is not enough heat to push an air conditioner hard, but the system still sits unused most of the year and then has to start right up when the first hot day hits. Niagara County has seen 16 winter storms and 87 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and in New York, 11% of households lost power for at least 24 hours in 2024. When the power comes back, most furnaces and air conditioners restart on their own. If yours does not, that is a sign something needs a look, not just a reset.
- 8 months
- October through May, your system heats
- 2 months
- July through August, it cools
- 21°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 $180 a year off heating and cooling for a typical Niagara County home.
Estimates for a typical Niagara 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. Make sure it's set to heat and the setpoint is above room temperature, since a setting bumped a degree or two can look like a dead furnace. Next check the breaker and the furnace switch, the one that looks like a light switch on or near the unit. If those are fine, look at the flame through the sight glass, or listen for the igniter clicking. A furnace that clicks several times and shuts off is usually a bad igniter or a dirty flame sensor, and a contractor can confirm which. With winter nights here dropping to 21°F, a furnace that's short cycling or not firing needs attention the same day.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- Check the air filter first. A filter clogged with dust blocks airflow across the coil, and the coil can ice over, so the system runs but only pushes warm air. Check the outdoor unit too. Leaves, grass clippings or a fence too close to it can cut off airflow the same way. If the filter is clean and the outdoor unit has room to breathe, the problem is likely low refrigerant or a failing part, and that needs a contractor with gauges to diagnose. Afternoons here reach 79°F in summer, so a system stuck like this won't keep up for long.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Check the thermostat batteries and settings first. A thermostat with dead batteries can look exactly like a dead system. Check the breaker panel and any switch near the furnace or air handler, since a tripped breaker or a switch bumped off will stop the system cold. Check the air filter and replace it if it's dark with dust, because restricted airflow causes problems that look like bigger failures. If the system runs on gas, make sure the gas valve is open. Go through these before calling, since a contractor will ask if you've already ruled them out.