HVAC Repair in Gaithersburg, MD
Homes here need heat from October through April and cooling from June through September. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Montgomery County will get in touch.
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Eleven months of work a year, in Gaithersburg
Your system in Gaithersburg only gets one month off. Heat runs October through April, seven months, and the AC picks up June through September. Winter nights average 27°F, so the burner is cycling on and off for most of a long, cold stretch. Summer afternoons average 85°F, and the compressor answers that heat call after call.
That much runtime wears on the parts that start the cycle. An igniter that's worn out won't light the burner, and a contactor or capacitor that's worn out won't start the compressor. More than half the homes here heat with gas, so a bad igniter or flame sensor is a common way to lose heat on a cold night. Power matters too. Maryland saw 11% of households lose power for a day or more in 2024, and the last ten years brought 23 winter storms and 443 damaging wind events to this area. When the power drops and comes back, most systems restart on their own, but what they were doing when the power went out is often the first sign something inside needs a look.
- 7 months
- October through April, your system heats
- 4 months
- June through September, it cools
- 27°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 85°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new furnace and air conditioner would cut about $160 a year off heating and cooling for a typical Montgomery County home.
Estimates for a typical Montgomery County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, Maryland 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.
Maryland requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors issues that license, and it tests the contractor before granting one. That license belongs to the contractor, not to any single job, so the same license covers this repair as it would any other HVAC work that contractor takes on.
For a repair like this, the license is what stands behind the person doing the work. It means the state tested this contractor and Maryland is the one that granted them the right to do HVAC work in the state.
Sources: Maryland General Assembly · Maryland Department of Labor
- Why is my heat not working?
- Most often it's the thermostat, a tripped breaker, or the furnace not getting fuel or power. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and the temperature is above room temperature, then check the breaker panel for a tripped switch. If it's a gas furnace, the pilot or igniter may have failed, or the gas valve may be shut off. Winter nights here average 27°F, so a furnace that won't start is worth calling in a contractor for the same day rather than waiting.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- The fan may be moving air, but something is stopping that air from actually getting cold. A dirty air filter is the most common cause, since it blocks airflow across the coil. It could also be low refrigerant from a leak, a failing compressor, or a condenser coil outside that's caked with dirt or grass clippings. Check the filter first since that's the one thing you can rule out yourself before calling anyone.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Check the thermostat first. Make sure it's set correctly and has power or working batteries. Check the breaker panel for anything tripped, and check the air filter to see if it's clogged. If it's a gas furnace, make sure the gas is turned on at the valve. If none of that explains the problem, a contractor will need to look at the system directly to diagnose it.