HVAC Repair in Holland, MI
Homes here need heat from October through May and cooling from June through August. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Ottawa County will get in touch.
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Eight months of heat, three of cooling, and not much rest between
Your furnace in Holland works from October through May. On the coldest nights, when the temperature drops to 20°F, it cycles on and off all night to hold the house steady, and every cycle puts a little more wear on the igniter and the flame sensor. Come June, the same system has to switch over and run the air conditioner through afternoons near 81°F, so there is barely a break between the two jobs.
Most homes here heat with gas, so when the furnace stops working, it is usually one part standing between the house and no heat at all. Storms play a part too. Ottawa County has logged 17 winter storms and 35 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and outages that follow can shut down a furnace or air conditioner that was working fine right up until the power went out.
- 8 months
- October through May, your system heats
- 3 months
- June through August, it cools
- 20°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 81°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new furnace and air conditioner would cut about $150 a year off heating and cooling for a typical Ottawa County home.
Estimates for a typical Ottawa County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, Michigan 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.
Michigan requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Board of Mechanical Rules is the state agency that issues this license, and it licenses the contractor, not the individual job. That license is a record the state keeps on the contractor. It is not a sign-off on this particular repair.
For a repair to your heating and cooling system, that means the license is what stands behind the contractor doing the work, not an inspection of this job after it is done. The gas side of the repair is the part where a bad connection is dangerous, and in Michigan the contractor's license is the record that exists for that work.
Sources: Michigan Legislature · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Why is my heat not working?
- Most often it comes down to power to the unit, the thermostat, or the igniter. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and the temperature is above room temperature, then check the breaker. If your furnace uses a standing pilot, see if the pilot light is still lit. Gas furnaces also have a flame sensor that dirties over time and shuts the burner off as a safety measure, so if the furnace tries to start and then quits, that is a common cause. With winter nights here averaging 20°F, it is worth calling a contractor quickly rather than waiting on this one.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- The most common cause is a dirty air filter blocking airflow, so check that first. If the filter is clean, look at the outdoor unit and make sure nothing is blocking it, since leaves and debris can restrict airflow across the coil. Low refrigerant is another common cause, but that is not something you can check yourself and it always means a leak somewhere in the system. If the air coming from the vents is barely cool or the system runs constantly without the house getting to temperature, a contractor will need to check refrigerant levels and the coil.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Start with the thermostat. Confirm it is set to the right mode and the temperature is actually calling for heat or cooling. Check the breaker for the system and, for gas furnaces, check that the gas valve is open. Replace the air filter if it looks dirty, since a clogged filter can cause problems that look like bigger issues. If none of that fixes it, a contractor will need to look at the actual equipment.