Heating Repair, Replacement, and Installation in Austin, TX
It's 28 degrees outside, and your heater just blew cold air.
Austin winters are short, which is exactly why heaters get ignored until the night they're needed most. Whether you need a repair, a replacement, or a brand-new installation, Martinez Brothers has been the call for Austin neighbors since 1997.
Safety Comes First
If you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call your gas utility or 911 from outside. Don't flip switches or light anything. If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, get everyone out and call for help. Everything else can wait.
Repair: Quick Checks and Common Culprits
- Make sure the thermostat is on Heat and set above room temperature.
- Check the breaker, the furnace switch, and the filter.
- If you have a heat pump, make sure the outdoor unit isn't buried in ice or debris.
If none of that works, here's what we usually find:
| System | Common culprits |
|---|---|
| Gas furnace | Dirty flame sensor, failed igniter, bad blower motor |
| Electric furnace | Burned-out heating element, faulty sequencer |
| Heat pump | Stuck reversing valve, defrost control failure |
| Any system | Thermostat trouble, tripped limit switch, restricted airflow |
Our technician tests the system rather than guessing, explains the problem in everyday language, and gives you a price before starting. We carry common parts on every truck, so most repairs are done in one visit, and we test for carbon monoxide before we leave.
How Old Is Too Old?
Most furnaces and heat pumps last 15 to 20 years with decent care. If yours is approaching that range, needs repairs every winter, or has a cracked heat exchanger, it's time to talk replacement. Other red flags include a yellow or flickering burner flame, soot around the furnace, rooms that never warm up, and bills that creep up for no reason.
Replacing early also lets you choose a convenient day on a mild afternoon instead of taking whatever's available on the coldest night of the year.
Furnace or Heat Pump?
Our winters are mild and our summers brutal, so heating choices here differ from the north. Here's the short version:
| Comparison | Gas furnace | Heat pump |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Burns natural gas | Moves heat using electricity |
| Also cools? | No | Yes |
| Best for | Homes with gas service and a preference for strong, hot air | Homes wanting one efficient system year-round |
Some homes do best with a dual-fuel setup, and rooms without ducts suit ductless mini-splits. We'll run the numbers with you.
Doing It Right
Whether it's a replacement or a first-time installation, a few details matter most.
Right-sized equipment avoids the short-cycling of an oversized heater.
Safe venting and gas connections must be done correctly, so we check for leaks and confirm exhaust paths.
Healthy ducts keep a new system from feeling like an old one.
We'll also explain efficiency ratings so you can judge whether a higher-priced model pays off.
Installation Day
We inspect your current setup, give you a written quote with options, and schedule the work, usually within days. We protect your floors, remove old equipment, connect everything safely, test the safety controls, and show you how to use your thermostat.
Stay Warm
Ask about rebates and financing options, and about a fall tune-up to catch worn parts before they fail.