Furnace Repair in Polson, MT
Furnaces here run from September through June. If yours quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Lake County will get in touch.
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Ten months of heat a year wears a furnace down
Polson needs a working furnace from September through June. That's ten months of the burner cycling on and off to hold the house against nights that average 20°F through the heart of winter.
56.2% of homes here heat with electricity, and Montana saw real outages in 2024, with 18% of households losing power for 24 hours or more. When the power goes out on a night that cold, a furnace that was already working hard to keep up is the one that won't start back up on its own once the lights come on.
- 10 months
- September through June, your furnace is on duty
- 20°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 125 winter storms
- in ten years, the nights a failure hurts most
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Montana requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
Montana's Department of Labor and Industry tests and licenses HVAC contractors. That license belongs to the contractor, not the job. It covers whatever work they take on, including a furnace repair.
A licensed contractor is what stands behind the work on this job. Montana does carve out one exception. Work under $2,500 does not need a licensed contractor.
Source: Montana Legislature
- Why won't my furnace turn on?
- Most often the thermostat is not calling for heat, a safety switch has tripped, or the igniter has failed. Check that the thermostat is set below room temperature and has power, since a dead battery will stop the call for heat before it ever reaches the furnace. If the thermostat looks fine, the furnace may be locking out on a safety switch, like a flame sensor or a limit switch, and that points to a repair a contractor needs to diagnose in person. With nights here averaging 20°F in the winter months, it is worth getting this looked at quickly rather than waiting.
- Why is my furnace blowing cold air?
- If the blower is running but the air is cold, the furnace usually is not igniting or is shutting off partway through the cycle. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and cause the furnace to overheat and shut down before the air warms up, so check that first. If the filter is clean, the problem is likely with the igniter, the flame sensor, or the gas valve, and those need a contractor to test and replace. Homes here need heat from September through June, so a furnace that will not hold a flame is not something to leave for long.
- Why won't my furnace pilot light stay lit?
- A pilot light that won't stay lit is almost always a sign of a failing thermocouple, the part that senses the flame and keeps the gas valve open. If the thermocouple has worn out or is out of position, it tells the gas valve to shut off even though the pilot is burning. A draft or a dirty pilot orifice can also blow the flame out or keep it too weak to register. This work involves the gas valve, so it calls for a licensed contractor, who can look at the furnace and price the repair for your house.