Thermostat Repair
Thermostat blank, not calling for heat or reading the wrong temperature? Troubleshooting, C-wire issues and when to replace the thermostat.
Heating Repair services
Each guide below covers one specific winter problem: symptoms, causes, what you can safely check and what a licensed technician does. Prices are explained in the heating repair cost guide.
Cold Rooms & Uneven Heating
One room always cold? Upstairs freezing while downstairs is warm? The real causes of uneven heating and how technicians balance a home.
Ductwork Repair & Sealing
Leaky, crushed or disconnected ducts waste heat. Learn the signs, how duct sealing works and what a licensed technician tests.
Electric Baseboard Heater Repair
Electric baseboard or wall heater not heating, tripping breakers or smelling hot? Causes, safety checks and licensed repair help.
Winter Heating Tune-Up
What a professional heating tune-up includes for furnaces, heat pumps and boilers, and why fall maintenance prevents mid-winter breakdowns.
Common winter problems and where to start
| Problem | What usually causes it |
|---|---|
| One room is always freezing | Usually ducts, dampers or missing returns, not the heater. Fix cold rooms. |
| Thermostat blank or ignoring you | Batteries, wiring, a missing C-wire or a failed thermostat. Thermostat repair. |
| Heat pours into the attic | Leaky or disconnected ducts can waste a big share of heated air. Duct repair. |
| Baseboard heaters stay cold | Breakers, line-voltage thermostats or burned-out elements. Electric heat repair. |
| System struggles every January | Skipped maintenance shows up in the first cold snap. Winter tune-up. |
Watch: winter heating explained
Short, silent clips hosted on muse.ai that show what to look for. They play muted and loop.
Coverage map: all 50 states and DC
Pick your state for local winter conditions, common heating fuels and the cities we route calls from. Colors show how severe winters are, based on IECC climate zones.
- Severe cold (IECC 6–8)
- Cold (5)
- Mixed (4)
- Mild (1–3)
How it works
- Tell us what's happening and what kind of heating system you have.
- We connect you with a licensed heating provider covering your ZIP code.
- The technician checks the heat source, controls and air or water distribution, not just one part.
- You approve the price before repairs begin.
- The system is tested room by room so the fix actually reaches the cold spots.
Decision guide
| Problem | Most likely area | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Whole house cold | Heat source (furnace, heat pump, boiler) | Check the thermostat, then call |
| One or two rooms cold | Ducts, dampers, returns | Cold rooms guide |
| Upstairs cold, downstairs hot | Zoning and air balance | Balancing |
| Thermostat unresponsive | Controls and wiring | Thermostat repair |
| Electric heat dead in one room | Breaker, element, line thermostat | Baseboard repair |
Before you call
Have the equipment type, brand and any blinking error code ready, and note what you've already checked. If anyone at home smells gas or a CO alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911 or the gas utility first.
Hearthwise Heating Repair is a referral service. Your call is connected to an independent, licensed provider who serves your ZIP code and quotes the job directly. How it works.
Heating Repair questions, answered
Why is one room colder than the rest of the house?
Common causes are a closed or disconnected duct, a long duct run with leaks, no return air path from the room, or exterior walls and windows losing heat faster than the room is supplied. A technician measures airflow at the register to tell which.
Should I close vents in unused rooms to save money?
Usually not. Closing more than a couple of registers raises duct pressure, can overheat a furnace and push air out of duct leaks instead. Zoning done properly with dampers is the better answer.
Why does my smart thermostat keep losing power?
Most smart thermostats need a continuous 24V common wire (C-wire). Without one, they steal power through the heating circuit, which can cause rebooting or short cycling. An adapter or a new wire fixes it.
How much heat do leaky ducts waste?
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates a typical duct system loses 20–30% of the air moving through it to leaks, holes and poor connections. Ducts in attics and crawlspaces lose the most in winter.
Do I need a heating tune-up every year?
Manufacturers and the DOE recommend annual maintenance for furnaces, boilers and heat pumps. Many warranties also require proof of maintenance.
My electric baseboard heater smells like burning. Is it safe?
A brief dusty smell at the start of the season is normal. A persistent burning or plastic smell is not. Turn the heater off at the breaker, keep curtains and furniture away, and have it inspected.