OUR SERVICES
Gas Furnace Repair Quincy MA
The house was warm at bedtime. By 6:30 the vents are cold, and the thermostat still says 68.
Four things cause most no heat calls on a gas furnace. Three of them are quick fixes. The fourth is the reason a furnace fails again a week after it was “fixed,” and we explain it below.
We repair gas furnaces from the triple deckers off Hancock Street to the condos at Marina Bay. Call (617) 555-0132. A licensed gas fitter can tell you what to check while we are on the way.
★★★★★ 300+ HAPPY CLIENTS
LICENSED & INSURED
EMERGENCY SERVICE 7 DAYS A WEEK
✓ MA Licensed Gas Fitters & Oil Burner Technicians ✓ Quincy & the South Shore ✓ Gas, Oil & Electric Furnaces ✓ No Commission Upselling ✓ Written Price Before Work
Hours: Monday to Friday 7 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 2 PM. After hours calls 6 PM to 11 PM, plus Sunday. Diagnostic visit: $100 to $175. Price in writing before any repair starts.
THE SHORT ANSWER
What does gas furnace repair include?
Gas furnace repair means finding the step where your furnace stopped, replacing or fixing that part, and testing a full heating cycle before we leave. Most visits involve the ignitor, flame sensor, inducer motor, pressure switch, blower, control board or thermostat wiring. A carbon monoxide and venting check comes with every visit.
WARNING SIGNS
Signs your furnace needs a technician
Your furnace usually warns you before it quits. Here is what to watch for.
● The thermostat calls for heat and nothing happens
● You hear clicking, then no flame
● The burners light for a few seconds, then shut off
● The blower runs but the air is cold
● Banging, squealing or a hum with no start
● The furnace cycles on and off every few minutes
● A blinking error code on the control board
● A heating bill that jumps with no change in how you live
Any one of these is worth a call. Two or more at once usually points to a failed safety control, and the furnace is shutting itself down for a reason.
THE HEAT CYCLE
What happens inside your furnace when you call for heat
A gas furnace runs a fixed sequence. If one step fails, the rest never happen. That is why “it clicks” and “it hums” are different repairs.
●
1
The thermostat closes a circuit and tells the control board to start.
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2
The draft inducer motor spins up and pulls air through the vent.
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3
The pressure switch confirms the vent is drawing.
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4
The ignitor heats up, or a spark fires.
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5
The gas valve opens and the burners light.
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6
The flame sensor proves there is a flame. If it does not within a few seconds, the gas shuts off.
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7
The heat exchanger warms, then the blower starts and pushes air to your rooms.
Q: Why does my gas furnace click but not light?
A: Clicking means the ignition sequence started and stopped before the burners lit. The usual causes are a worn hot surface ignitor, a dirty flame sensor or a gas valve that is not opening. A technician tests each step to find the one that fails. Guessing at parts costs more than testing.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Symptom guide: what you can check and when to call
| WHAT YOU SEE | LIKELY CAUSE | SAFE TO CHECK YOURSELF | CALL US WHEN |
|---|---|---|---|
| No sound, nothing starts | Dead thermostat batteries, tripped breaker, furnace switch off, failed transformer | Batteries, furnace switch, breaker (reset once) | Breaker trips again, or the display is dead |
| Clicking, no flame | Worn ignitor, dirty flame sensor, gas valve | Nothing beyond the thermostat | Right away. This needs testing |
| Burners light, then go out | Dirty flame sensor, weak draft | Replace a dirty filter | It repeats after a new filter |
| Blower runs, cold air | Burners never lit, or the high limit switch tripped | Filter, supply vents open | Cold air after 5 minutes |
| Hum, nothing starts | Inducer motor or blower capacitor | Nothing | Right away |
| Short cycling | Restricted airflow, overheating, vent blockage | Filter, clear snow from outside vent | It continues after both checks |
| Banging or squealing | Delayed ignition, loose belt or failing motor bearing | Nothing | Banging at startup needs same day attention |
| Water near the furnace | Clogged condensate drain or trap, frozen line | Wipe up, check the drain line is not kinked | Any repeat leak |
Never open the burner compartment or bypass a safety switch. Those switches exist because gas and flame are involved.
REPEAT FAILURES
4
The fourth cause: why a repaired furnace fails again
The first three causes are a dirty flame sensor, a worn ignitor and a thermostat problem. They are the parts that wear out. The fourth cause is the one that kills the new part: restricted airflow or a blocked vent.
A clogged filter or a dirty blower wheel makes the heat exchanger run hot. The high limit switch trips, the furnace shuts down, and the cycle repeats until something burns out. We always check airflow and venting before we call a repair finished.
Q: Can snow shut down a high efficiency furnace in Quincy?
A: Yes. High efficiency furnaces vent through PVC pipes that exit a side wall. After a nor’easter, a drift or a plowed snowbank can cover the intake or exhaust. The pressure switch sees the blockage and locks the furnace out. Clear the snow around the outside pipes by hand, and keep your hands away from the openings. Call us if it stays locked out. See our high efficiency furnace repair page.
Q: Why does my furnace condensate line freeze?
A: A condensing furnace makes water as it cools the exhaust. In an unheated basement, garage or crawl space the drain line can freeze, and a safety switch then shuts the furnace down. Thawing the line and sloping or insulating it fixes it. A float switch that keeps tripping needs a technician.
WHAT WE FIX
Gas furnace parts we repair or replace
Ignition and gas
- Hot surface ignitor and spark ignitor
- Flame sensor cleaning and replacement
- Gas valve and gas manifold
- Pilot light and thermocouple on older units
- Burner assembly cleaning
Air and venting
- Draft inducer motor
- Blower motor, blower wheel and capacitor
- Pressure switch
- Flue pipe, exhaust vent and combustion air intake
- Air filter, return air vent and ductwork leaks
Safety controls and electrical
- Limit switch and high limit switch
- Flame rollout switch and safety interlock switch
- Furnace control board and integrated furnace control
- Transformer, wiring and circuit breaker faults
- Thermostat testing and replacement
Condensate and heat exchanger
- Condensate drain, trap and pump
- Primary and secondary heat exchanger inspection
- Combustion analysis and gas pressure testing
The ignitor and flame sensor page shows how these two parts are tested and priced.
Motor jobs have their own page: inducer and blower motor repair.
Why furnaces fail where they do in Quincy
This city has a lot of old housing and a lot of coastline. Both are hard on a furnace. Here is how that plays out block by block.
58%
Gas is the main heating fuel in both Wollaston (ZIP 02170) and North Quincy (ZIP 02171). It heats about 58 percent of homes in each, according to Census Bureau American Community Survey data.
| AREA | WHAT STRESSES THE FURNACE |
|---|---|
| Wollaston, off Newport Avenue and Beale Street | Most homes were built before 1940, and about half the households rent. Old ducts, tight basements and landlords who need a written record of the repair. |
| North Quincy, along Hancock Street near the Red Line | A mix of gas and electric heat, older two and three family houses and condos. Many buildings have furnaces in shared or cramped utility spaces. |
| Quincy Center, around Hancock Adams Common | Century old multi family buildings, with furnaces that outlived two or three owners. Parts are often hard to match. |
| Houghs Neck and Adams Shore, along Sea Street | Wind off Quincy Bay and Hingham Bay and salt air. Exposed vent hoods and terminals corrode faster. Oil still heats a larger share of homes here, about 13.5 percent in ZIP 02169, so confirm your fuel before you book. |
| Squantum, near Squantum Point Park | Same salt air and open exposure. Check outside vent terminals after every storm. |
| Marina Bay | Waterfront condos and townhouses. Venting is often shared or goes through the roof, so check your association rules before work starts. |
Nor’easters add a second problem. Snow blocks outside vents, and power flickers damage control boards. A furnace that quits after a storm often has a blocked pipe or a surge damaged board, not a worn out motor.
SAFETY FIRST
Gas smell or CO alarm: do this before you call us
These are not repair calls first. They are safety calls first.
1Leave the house with everyone inside. Take pets if you can do it quickly.
2Do not flip light switches, use the doorbell or start the furnace on your way out.
3From outside, call 911. Then call National Grid’s gas emergency line. The number is on your gas bill.
4Stay out until the fire department says the house is clear.
5Call us after that. We will not restart a furnace that set off an alarm until we have tested it.
Massachusetts law, known as Nicole’s Law, requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes with fuel burning equipment. They belong on every habitable level, including the basement, and near sleeping areas. Look at the date on the back of yours. Most alarms need replacing every 5 to 10 years.
Learn more on our inspection and CO check page.
PRICING
What gas furnace repair costs in Quincy
Most people call because they fear the bill more than the cold. So here is how we price.
A small part, like a flame sensor, is cheap. Most of the bill is the diagnosis and the labor to reach the part. Furnaces in tight closets or finished basements take longer to open up.
| SERVICE | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit | $100 to $175 |
| Flame sensor clean or replace | $130 to $300 |
| Hot surface ignitor | $175 to $350 |
| Inducer motor | $400 to $900 |
| Blower motor | $500 to $1,200 |
| Blower capacitor | $150 to $300 |
| Control board | $400 to $1,000 |
| After hours surcharge | $100 to $250 on top of the visit fee |
These are typical 2026 ranges for the Boston area, with parts and labor included. Your written quote is the price you pay. If a quote lands far above these numbers, ask what is driving it.
Age × Quote > $5,000
What is the $5,000 rule for a furnace? Multiply the furnace’s age by the repair quote. If the result is over $5,000, replacement usually wins. A 12 year old furnace with a $300 repair scores $3,600, so you repair it. An 18 year old furnace with a $400 repair scores $7,200, so you start comparing replacement. It is a rule of thumb. Gas furnaces last 15 to 20 years.
If your quote is large, read repair or replace your furnace before you decide. Our full price page is here.
THE VISIT
How a service call works
1You call (617) 555-0132. For no heat calls, we give you an arrival window of 60 to 120 minutes.
2The technician starts with safety: a CO reading, a gas smell check and a look at the venting.
3He runs the ignition sequence step by step and shows you the part that failed and what caused it.
4You get the price in writing. You say yes or no. There is no pressure to replace a furnace that can be repaired.
5After the repair, we run a full heating cycle and check CO again before we leave.
Repairs carry a 90 day parts warranty and a 90 day labor warranty.
RENTALS
Landlords and tenants
DAY 68°F NIGHT 64°F
In Massachusetts, the owner of a rental must provide heat. The state sanitary code (105 CMR 410) sets the minimum at 68°F during the day and 64°F at night. If your furnace is down in a rental, tell your landlord in writing and keep a copy.
Property managers can ask us for a written service record after each visit. See multi unit furnace service and no heat rules for rentals.
SERVICE AREA
Where we repair gas furnaces
Every neighborhood, from Wollaston to Squantum, plus Braintree, Milton, Weymouth, Randolph and Holbrook. Check the service area page for the full list.
Wollaston North Quincy Quincy Center Houghs Neck Adams Shore Squantum Marina Bay Braintree Milton Weymouth Randolph Holbrook
TYPICAL CALLS
How we work through three common no heat calls
These are typical calls, shown step by step, so you know what a good visit looks like.
CALL 01 — Furnace clicks, lights for a moment, then quitsTHE PROBLEM:The thermostat calls for heat. You hear a click, see the burners light for a few seconds, and then everything shuts off. The house keeps cooling.HOW WE DIAGNOSE IT:The technician watches the full ignition sequence and checks the flame sensor first. A film on the sensor rod keeps it from proving the flame. He also checks the vent and the burners for debris.THE FIX:Clean or replace the flame sensor, then run three full heating cycles to confirm the flame holds.WHAT YOU GET:A steady flame, warm air at the vents, and a note on whether the sensor was worn or only dirty.
CALL 02 — High efficiency furnace locks out after a nor’easterTHE PROBLEM:A coastal storm drops a foot of snow and wind drives a drift against the side wall. The furnace shows an error code and will not start.HOW WE DIAGNOSE IT:The technician checks the outside intake and exhaust pipes, reads the code on the control board, and tests the pressure switch and its hose for water or blockage.THE FIX:Clear the pipes, clear any water from the hose, and confirm the pressure switch closes. If the switch is weak, replace it.WHAT YOU GET:A furnace that starts and stays on, plus advice on keeping that wall clear and where to stack plowed snow.
CALL 03 — Blower runs, but the air is coldTHE PROBLEM:The fan comes on and moves air, but nothing warm arrives. It happens most on cold afternoons when the furnace has been running for hours.HOW WE DIAGNOSE IT:The technician checks the filter, looks at the blower wheel for dirt buildup, and tests the high limit switch. Weak airflow makes the heat exchanger overheat, and the switch shuts the burners off to protect it.THE FIX:Replace the filter, clean the blower wheel, and replace the limit switch only if it fails the test.WHAT YOU GET:Normal airflow, steady heat, and a filter schedule that fits your house.
REVIEWS
What customers say
★★★★★The furnace kept shutting offOur gas furnace kept shutting off, and the house was getting colder every hour. The technician checked the system and explained what was causing the problem before starting the repair. I appreciated that he explained everything in plain English instead of pushing us to replace the whole furnace. It’s working properly again.Daniel M., Quincy, MA
★★★★★The furnace was blowing cold airWe turned on the heat and realized the furnace was only blowing cold air. I worried it would turn into an expensive repair, but the technician checked the ignition system and walked me through the options. The price was explained before the work started, which I really appreciated.Eric Grunewald, Quincy, MA
★★★★★Finally, someone explained the problemOur furnace started making a strange noise, so we decided to have it checked before it got worse. The technician inspected it and explained what needed attention and what could wait. I liked that there was no pressure to buy a new furnace. The whole experience was straightforward and helpful.Janice Connolly, Quincy, MA
Gas furnace repair questions, answered
How much does gas furnace repair cost in Quincy?The cost depends on the part, the furnace model and the time of day. The diagnostic visit runs $100 to $175. After the test, you get the repair price in writing, and nothing starts until you say yes. The price table above shows our common repairs.
Why is my gas furnace blowing cold air?Most often the burners shut off before the blower started, or they never lit. A dirty flame sensor, a tripped high limit switch or a clogged filter causes this. Check the filter and thermostat batteries first. If the air stays cold, call a technician.
Is it safe to relight the pilot light myself?Only if your furnace has a standing pilot, the manual shows the steps, and you smell no gas. Most furnaces built in the last twenty years use an electric ignitor instead. If the flame will not stay lit, a thermocouple or gas valve is failing and needs a technician.
How long does a gas furnace repair take?Most repairs finish in one visit because the common parts ride on the truck. A control board or motor for an unusual model may need a second visit. Your technician tells you before leaving how long the part will take.
How long do gas furnaces last?A well kept gas furnace lasts 15 to 20 years. Salt air near Quincy Bay, skipped filter changes and a blocked vent shorten that. Age matters most when you decide whether a large repair is worth it.
What is the $5,000 rule for a furnace?Multiply the furnace’s age by the repair quote. If the number is over $5,000, replacement usually makes more sense. An 18 year old furnace with a $400 repair scores $7,200. It is a rule of thumb, not a law, so ask for both prices.
Can I keep running a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger?No. A crack can let combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, into your air. Turn the furnace off and call us. Do not run it until a technician has inspected it and confirmed the heat exchanger is sound.
Do I need a permit for a gas furnace repair in Quincy?Swapping a part such as an ignitor or flame sensor does not normally need one. Replacing the furnace or changing gas piping does, and the licensed gas fitter pulls it through the city inspection office. Ask us what applies to your job.
Does Mass Save help pay for a new gas furnace?Mass Save has offered rebates on qualifying high efficiency equipment and a 0% HEAT Loan for eligible homeowners. Programs and amounts change each year. Check masssave.com before you buy, and ask us for the model numbers that qualify.
What should I do if the furnace dies at night?Check the thermostat, filter and breaker. Smell gas or hear a CO alarm? Leave the house and call 911. For a no heat call after hours, ring (617) 555-0132. Our after hours window is 6 PM to 11 PM on weeknights, and Sunday and the extra fee is $100 to $250.
Furnace down right now?
Call (617) 555-0132. Tell us the make of your furnace and what you see on the thermostat. We will tell you what to check next.
For after hours calls, our window is 6 PM to 11 PM on weeknights, and Sunday. See emergency furnace repair for the fee and response time.