This guide is for homeowners in Fort Mohave, Bullhead City, Mohave Valley and Golden Valley. It starts with the safe first steps. Then it helps you decide between a repair and a new heater. To reach Horizon Air, call (928) 768-3761 or use the contact page.
What to Do in the First 30 Minutes After Your Heater Stops in Bullhead City
When your heating system fails on a cold desert night, your first priority is safety. Follow these steps in the first 30 minutes after your heater fails.
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Assess for Immediate Danger. If you smell gas or burning, see smoke or sparks, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside. From outside, call 911. For gas, also call your gas utility. Do not touch the thermostat or a breaker. “Don’t turn on or off any electric switches, thermostats, or appliance controls, or do anything that could cause a spark.” Southwest Gas gives this advice for a gas smell. Do not try to diagnose the problem yourself.
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Turn the System Off at the Thermostat. Only if step 1 found no sign of gas, burning or smoke, go to your wall thermostat. Switch the system setting from ‘Heat’ to the ‘Off’ position.
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Check the Circuit Breaker. Go to your home’s main electrical panel and find the breaker that controls your furnace or indoor heating unit. With no gas or burning smell, if it has tripped, you can try switching it fully off and then back on one time. If it trips again immediately, leave it in the off position and do not touch it again.
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Call a Licensed Heating Company. Once you have taken these safety steps, a technician can find out why it stopped. That tells you whether a simple repair will work or a new heater makes more sense. Meanwhile, read the heater replacement guide or see the heating repair page.
Warning Signs Your Heater Is Failing or Unsafe
Loud banging or scraping noises can mean a moving part, like the fan that pushes warm air through your vents, has come loose. A high-pitched squeal can mean a worn part in the fan motor.
If you hear these sounds and smell no gas or burning, set the thermostat to Off.
According to the CDC, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning not linked to fires. More than 100,000 Americans visit an emergency department for it. The CDC advises installing battery-operated or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area in your home.
A burning or acrid electrical smell is a danger sign. Stop and follow step 1 above.
If your heater turns on and off every few minutes, it is short-cycling. A dirty filter or an overheating safety switch can be the cause.
Weak or cool air from your vents can mean a failing fan motor or a problem with the part that heats the air.
On a gas furnace, a yellow or flickering flame instead of a steady blue one is a reason to stop and call a professional.
A sudden, unexplained jump in your electric bill can mean your heater is running more than it should.
These symptoms often force a hard choice. Our heater replacement guide can help you weigh the costs before a breakdown.
Repair or Replace: What It Costs and When to Replace
According to This Old House, a natural gas furnace is likely to cost $3,800–$10,000 for the unit and installation. An electric furnace may cost $2,000–$7,000. These are national market ranges, not Horizon Air prices.
Market range, not a Horizon price.
ENERGY STAR lists a furnace or boiler more than 15 years old as a reason to consider replacing it. If yours is that old, ask for a replacement price as well as a repair price.
AFUE is the share of the fuel that becomes heat. The U.S. Department of Energy’s purchasing guide puts Arizona in its Southern Region. There, it rates an ENERGY STAR gas furnace at 90% AFUE, against 80% for a less efficient model.
For more on replacement, see the heating installation and replacement page.
How to Lower the Chance of Another Heater Breakdown
Three habits lower the chance of a breakdown.
First, check your filter monthly and replace it when it’s dirty. A clean filter keeps air moving through the furnace.
Second, leave the pilot light and the flame sensor to a technician. This is not a DIY fix.
Third, book a tune-up before the heating season. The CDC advises having your heating system serviced by a qualified technician every year. A technician can test electrical parts and catch wear. The heating maintenance page has more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask before they call or book.
What steps can I take to protect my home while waiting for a technician?
First, prioritize safety. If you smell gas or burning, see smoke or sparks, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside. From outside, call 911. For gas, also call your gas utility. Do not touch the thermostat or a breaker. Otherwise, clear a path to your furnace or indoor heating unit so a technician can reach it. To keep any remaining warmth on a cold desert night, close blinds and shut doors to unused rooms until the visit.
When is it necessary to shut down power to my heater to prevent more damage?
If you smell gas or burning, see smoke or sparks, or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside. From outside, call 911. For gas, also call your gas utility. Do not touch the thermostat or a breaker. If you hear loud grinding or banging with no sign of danger, set the thermostat to Off. Then call a licensed heating company.
What kind of maintenance helps reduce the risk of a heater breakdown?
Schedule a professional heating tune-up each fall. During the service, a technician can clean critical components, test safety controls, and check electrical connections for wear. For homeowners in Bullhead City and Golden Valley, this maintenance can catch problems before they leave you without heat.
Horizon Air is a family-owned business founded in 1976 and based in Fort Mohave. We serve Fort Mohave, Bullhead City, Mohave Valley and Golden Valley. Our Arizona ROC is #344248.
Contact Horizon Air LLC
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Horizon Air LLC
