Heating & Furnace Contractors in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Heating Systems

While accustomed to having weather that is generally mild and rarely unmanageable, for homeowners in San Francisco, heating systems are an essential part of every home. You won't find sub-zero temperatures in the Bay Area, but there's no doubt that San Francisco heating systems are a necessity in the winter months, as well as a great benefit when the sun goes down for most of the year. Keeping your heating system in good shape is, therefore, a priority if you want both good performance and efficient operation; and when it does come time to replace your existing heating system, San Francisco homeowners who know what's available (and understand some of the terminology associated with different units) will be at an advantage.

Terminology
In most cases, San Francisco heating systems are of the "forced air" variety. This means that a furnace is used to create hot air that is circulated around the home. Far more rare (but certainly present in and around San Francisco) are boilers; these systems heat the home by circulating hot water or steam rather than warm air. Boiler systems rely on radiators to heat individual rooms, while forced air systems release hot air from vents.

Heat pumps are single units that can both heat and cool your home through a single set of ductwork. In regions where winters are harsh, heat pumps are generally not regarded as a good choice (furnaces and boilers are much better at heating a home), but in the Bay Area, they are an option worth considering.

Some Bay Area properties use electric heat. Though generally not efficient enough to heat a whole house at a reasonable price, electric wall heaters and baseboards are well suited to heating individual rooms and small apartments.

Solar Heating
Solar power is in the beginning stages of use for residential heating. While not many people currently have solar heating systems, San Francisco is an ideal place (both in climate and mind-set) for environmentally conscious homeowners to test the waters of this budding resource. Solar heat is clean, efficient, and ultimately effective at maintaining comfortable temperatures indoors during cold weather. In San Francisco, solar heating is going to run you more to install than other types of heating systems, but the environmental benefits and long-term savings make this option one that definitely deserves a second glance.

In addition to whole house solar heating, San Francisco residents also have the option of installing a solar water heater. Solar water heaters are becoming increasingly popular as their initial installation costs continue to go down. If considering a solar water heater or solar heating system, San Francisco homeowners should look into the various local, state, and federal incentives available for green home improvements, as these can certainly make a difference in how well your budget can handle this higher-end upgrades.

In most cases, your heating system maintenance needs to be done by a trained professional. Though some handy do-it-yourselfers might be able to fix small problems with a furnace or boiler (and almost anyone can perform tasks like replacing the furnace filter when necessary), these devices are quite varied and are not good places to "tinker." As a homeowner, the best thing you can do to keep your heating system in good shape is to have it inspected annually and have it looked at as soon as you notice a problem. Heating system inspections might seem like an unnecessary expense, but getting them done regularly is a great way to identify small problems before they have a chance to grow, which can help you avoid much larger repair costs down the road.

Repair and Replacement Costs
There are several different types of heating systems, and each can have a number of problems. Though making a blanket statement of what a repair will cost you is difficult, we can say that we've seen some repairs cost as little as $50 and others that cost as much as $900; most of the San Francisco heating system repairs we see fall somewhere in the $200 to $300 range. When it comes to replacement or installation of a new furnace or boiler, most jobs fall somewhere in the $5,000 range with the least involved tasks coming in under $3,000 and the most expensive ones breaking the $10,000 mark.