Winter in Shasta County (Redding, Anderson, Cottonwood, and surrounding areas) brings chilly nights and frosty mornings. Even though our winters are relatively mild by some standards (average lows hover in the mid-30s °F), a reliable furnace is a must to keep your home cozy and safe. This ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to know about furnace repair, maintenance, and installation in our local area. We’ll cover common furnace issues during Shasta County winters, money-saving maintenance tips (including a free downloadable Winter Maintenance Checklist!), advice on repair vs. replacement for older units, and how to choose the right heating system (gas, electric, or heat pump) for your home. Along the way, you’ll see why countless neighbors trust Infinity Heating & Air – from our customer testimonials to the qualities that set us apart. Let’s dive in with a friendly, down-to-earth approach to staying warm and saving on those PG&E bills!
Infinity Heating & Air Pro Tip: Schedule your annual furnace tune-up each fall. It’s the best way to catch problems early and ensure your system is running efficiently before the cold sets in. (Plus, it can prevent surprise breakdowns on winter’s coldest night!)
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Even a well-maintained furnace can run into trouble, especially during peak use in winter. In Redding, Anderson, Cottonwood, and nearby areas, we often see a few common furnace issues each winter. Knowing these in advance can help you catch problems early or communicate clearly with your HVAC technician:
Most of these issues can be resolved quickly by a qualified HVAC technician. The key is not to ignore the warning signs. If you’re ever unsure, it’s safest to shut off the furnace and call Infinity Heating & Air, your local professionals, for advice.
We’ll get one of our certified techs out to diagnose and fix it fast. Don’t shiver in an under-heated home – we offer 24/7 emergency HVAC service in Redding, Anderson, Cottonwood and all of Shasta County!
Schedule TodayKeeping your furnace in tip-top shape not only prevents breakdowns – it can also save you real money on your energy bills. Heating makes up a big chunk of winter energy use, so efficiency matters. Here are some practical maintenance tips (tailored to Northern California homeowners) that can lighten the load on your furnace and your wallet:
This is the easiest and most important furnace maintenance task. A dirty filter chokes your furnace by reducing airflow, forcing the system to work harder and use more energy. Check your filter monthly during heavy-use seasons. At minimum, replace it every 3 months or sooner if it looks dirty. Filters are cheap; furnaces are not – a clean filter can prevent expensive repairs or early system failure. (Hint: Set a reminder on your phone or mark your calendar so you don’t forget!)
Leaky ducts can waste a lot of heat. In a typical house, 20–30% of heated air is lost through holes or poor connections in the duct system. That’s like paying for heat that never reaches your rooms! Inspect accessible ducts (in the attic or crawlspace) for obvious leaks or disconnected joints. You can use metal foil tape (not duct tape, despite the name) on small gaps. For larger issues, consider hiring a pro for duct sealing. Ensuring your ductwork is well-insulated and sealed means more warm air actually gets into your living spaces, allowing your furnace to run less.
If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat yet, this upgrade often pays for itself. Program your thermostat to lower the heat when you’re away or sleeping. For example, setting it a few degrees cooler overnight or while the house is empty can significantly cut energy use. For each degree you lower the thermostat (for an 8-hour period), you can save roughly 2% on your heating bill. That means dropping from 70°F to 65°F could save about 10% off your bill! Modern smart thermostats even learn your routine and can be adjusted from your phone – perfect if you forget to turn down the heat when heading out.
Your furnace will run less if your home holds onto heat better. Simple weatherization steps go a long way: seal up drafty windows and doors with weather-stripping or caulk, add insulation to attics or walls if needed, and use door sweeps to block under-door drafts. Also, close fireplace dampers when not in use. Stopping cold air from sneaking in (and warm air from leaking out) can ease the burden on your furnace and lower your PG&E bill. According to PG&E, sealing leaks and adding insulation can provide up to 10% savings on annual energy bills– not too shabby for some DIY weather-stripping!
It might be tempting to close off vents in unused rooms, but today’s furnaces are designed to heat a certain amount of space. Closing vents can actually raise system pressure and reduce efficiency. Keep all supply and return vents open and unobstructed by furniture or rugs. Walk through your home and make sure each vent is allowing free airflow. This helps maintain proper balance in your heating system. Also, vacuum dust from vents periodically to keep airflow strong.
Just like a car, your heating system benefits from regular professional check-ups. Aim to have your furnace serviced once a year (ideally in the fall). During a tune-up, an HVAC technician will clean burners, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving parts, check safety controls, test efficiency, and more. They’ll also be able to spot small issues before they turn into expensive repairs. This keeps your furnace running at peak performance and can extend its lifespan. Plus, a well-tuned furnace uses less fuel to produce the same heat – saving you money. Infinity Heating & Air offers affordable maintenance plans to help you stay on track with annual service.
Take a cue from Mother Nature on sunny winter days – open your curtains or blinds to let the sunlight naturally warm your home (especially south-facing windows). Sunlight can raise indoor temps a couple of degrees for free! In the evening, close the blinds/curtains to help insulate. If you have ceiling fans, use them on the “winter” setting (clockwise rotation) at low speed. This pulls cool air up and pushes warm air down along the walls, distributing heat more evenly without a draft. It sounds odd, but it can even out room temperatures and ease the load on your furnace.
We mentioned installing a programmable thermostat, but even how you use a manual thermostat can impact bills. Avoid cranking the heat way up to try to heat faster – furnaces don’t work that way (they heat at the same rate regardless, you’ll just overshoot and waste energy). Instead, set it to your target temperature and be patient. When you leave the house or go on vacation, don’t leave the heat at 70°F. Lower it to 60°F or so (but not off completely in case we hit freezing temps – you don’t want frozen pipes). Small adjustments and mindful usage add up to savings.
By following these maintenance tips, you’ll not only stay more comfortable – you’ll also notice the difference on your utility bills. And who doesn’t love saving money while staying warm? Many of these steps are DIY-friendly. For the ones that aren’t (or if you simply prefer the experts), Infinity Heating & Air is here to help with professional maintenance services.
We’ve compiled a handy Winter Furnace Maintenance Checklist that you can print out and use each year. It covers all the essential steps to winterize your furnace and ensure it’s running safely and efficiently.
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One of the toughest decisions as a homeowner is knowing when a furnace should be repaired versus when it’s time to invest in a new one. If your furnace is acting up, you might be wondering whether to fix it or flip it (so to speak). Here are some guidelines to help you make a confident decision:
In summary, repairing makes sense for newer units with minor issues, and replacing makes sense for older units with big problems or inefficiencies. If you’re on the fence, Infinity Heating & Air can provide an honest assessment. We never pressure you one way or the other – we’ll simply give you the information: what the repair entails and costs, what a replacement option costs, and our professional opinion given what we see. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but we’re here to help you weigh the factors that matter.
If you’re considering a new installation or an upgrade in Shasta County, you might be wondering what type of system is best. The three main options for home heating here are natural gas furnaces, electric furnaces, and heat pumps. Each has its pros and cons, and the right choice can depend on your home, budget, and priorities. Let’s break them down in plain language:
Overview: Gas furnaces are very common in Redding and surrounding areas, especially in homes that already have natural gas service (courtesy of PG&E). They burn natural gas to create heat, which is then blown through your ducts. Propane furnaces are similar but use delivered propane tanks, typically in more rural areas.
Pros: Gas heat is powerful and fast – it can warm your home quickly even when it’s very cold outside. Many folks prefer the cozy warmth of a gas furnace. Natural gas has historically been cost-effective in terms of fuel cost per BTU; in fact, even today, running a gas furnace is often cheaper than running electric resistance heat, especially with California electricity rates. Gas furnaces also tend to last a long time (15-20 years is common). With high-efficiency models (90%+ AFUE), modern gas furnaces waste very little fuel. They’re a tried-and-true technology with lots of local HVAC technicians (like ours!) familiar with servicing them.
Cons: Since gas furnaces involve combustion, there are some safety considerations. You need to have good ventilation for exhaust and be mindful of carbon monoxide (CO) – hence those CO detectors and annual inspections to check for cracks or leaks. Gas furnaces also require a gas line connection; if your home doesn’t have one, adding a gas line can be costly (or not feasible in some areas). Additionally, gas prices can fluctuate, and there’s an environmental aspect: burning fossil fuel emits carbon. Some homeowners are looking to go electric for greener energy. Lastly, gas furnaces only provide heating – you’d still need a separate AC for cooling in summer.
Best For: Homes that already have natural gas, those in cooler parts of Shasta County or for people who want robust heating performance. If you value quick heat and lower operational cost in winter, gas is great. Just remember to keep up with maintenance for safety and efficiency.
Overview: Electric furnaces warm your house by using electric heating elements (imagine giant versions of a toaster or space heater element) to heat air, which then gets blown through ducts. They are basically an air handler with a big electric heater inside.
Pros: Electric furnaces have no combustion, no flue, and no risk of carbon monoxide. That can provide peace of mind on the safety front. They are generally simpler mechanically – fewer parts than gas furnaces – which can mean less that can go wrong. Installation can be easier if your home is already set up with the right electrical capacity (they typically require a high-voltage circuit). If you don’t have natural gas at your home, an electric furnace is a straightforward option to still get central heating. They also can be smaller in size, since you don’t need the venting mechanisms of gas.
Cons: The big one: operating cost. In our area, electricity is significantly more expensive per unit of heat than natural gas. Electric furnaces are 100% efficient at turning electricity into heat (sounds good, but wait) – whereas a heat pump can be 300% efficient (by moving heat) and a gas furnace can produce heat from cheaper gas fuel. So with an electric furnace, you might see a steep increase in your electric bill in winter. Electric furnaces also heat the air more slowly than gas – they can be effective, but some people find the air coming out of the vent is not quite as hot as with gas. Also, if we have a power outage, an electric furnace obviously won’t work (whereas a gas furnace might be able to in some cases, since it mostly uses electricity for the blower and controls). However, most gas furnaces won’t run in an outage either unless you have backup power, so that’s a minor point.
Best For: Homes with no gas line access, or homeowners who want to avoid fossil fuels but aren’t ready for a heat pump. Also, if your heating needs are very light (perhaps you live in a super-efficient small home), an electric furnace could be sufficient. In many cases, though, if considering electric, a heat pump (next section) will be a more efficient choice for electric heating.
Overview: Heat pumps are essentially an air conditioner that can run in reverse to provide heat. They use electricity not to create heat, but to move heat from one place to another. In winter, a heat pump pulls heat from outside air and transfers it inside; in summer, it does the reverse (taking heat from inside and dumping it outside, like a regular AC). In Shasta County, many newer systems are heat pumps, and they can be either the traditional central ducted type or ductless mini-split systems.
Pros: Energy efficiency is the name of the game. Because heat pumps move heat rather than generate it, they can provide 3 to 4 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed. In comparison, an electric furnace gives you 1 for 1. That means a heat pump can use 65% less electricity than an electric furnace to heat your home. This makes them much cheaper to run than electric furnaces and often on par with (or better than) gas in mild winter climates. Given our winters are moderate, heat pumps usually have no trouble keeping up with heating demand. Another big plus: it’s one system for both heating and cooling. Your heat pump is your AC in the summer. That simplifies things and can save money (you don’t need to buy a separate furnace and AC). Heat pumps also have no direct emissions on-site – they’re as clean as the electrical grid. With California’s push toward renewable energy, running a heat pump is a climate-friendly choice. And no combustion means no carbon monoxide concerns.
Cons: Heat pumps can have higher upfront cost, especially if you’re installing new. If your home has an existing furnace/AC setup, replacing everything with a heat pump system might require new equipment inside and out (air handler + heat pump unit). However, there are also dual-fuel systems where a heat pump works in tandem with a gas furnace – using electric heating in milder weather and gas in very cold spells. Another consideration: performance in extreme cold. Standard heat pumps can start to lose efficiency when temperatures drop near freezing. In Redding/Anderson area, we do get nights in the 30s and occasional 20s°F. Modern cold-climate heat pumps are much better at handling these temps, but an older or smaller heat pump might need supplemental electric heat on the coldest nights (essentially kicking in electric furnace coils as backup). It’s important to size the system correctly. Also, if you have an older home with weak insulation, you’d want to address that to get the most out of a heat pump’s efficiency. Finally, while a heat pump will give wonderfully warm air, some folks note it’s a gentler heat (air from the vents might be around 95°F-100°F, compared to 120°F from a gas furnace). It still warms the house, just a different feel.
Best For: Many homes in Shasta County can benefit from heat pumps, especially given our climate isn’t sub-zero. They’re great for homeowners looking to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint. If you need both a heating and cooling upgrade, a heat pump can tackle both jobs at once. With current rebates and incentives available for heat pumps (due to their efficiency and eco-friendliness), it’s definitely worth considering. We’ve installed a lot of heat pumps for local families who love them.
It can be a bit overwhelming! Here at Infinity Heating & Air, we’re happy to provide recommendations. We’ll consider your home’s size, insulation, whether you have gas hookup, your budget, and even current incentives to find the best fit. Whether it’s a top-of-the-line high-efficiency gas furnace, a hybrid dual-fuel system, or a state-of-the-art heat pump, we’ve got you covered with expert installation in Redding, Anderson, Cottonwood and beyond
We believe our customers say it best. Here are a couple of real experiences from homeowners we’ve helped in the Redding area:
Feel free to contact Infinity Heating & Air anytime. We’re here to help our Shasta County neighbors stay warm in winter, cool in summer, and comfortable year-round!
Call NowIt’s best to have a professional tune-up once a year. Annual maintenance (typically in the fall) keeps your furnace running efficiently and safely. During a tune-up, we’ll clean and inspect the unit, which can prevent breakdowns and maintain your manufacturer warranty. Additionally, check your filter monthly and replace as needed between those visits.
Common red flags include: strange noises (banging, squealing), persistent burning or gas odors, the furnace cycling on and off frequently, uneven heating in the home, or rising energy bills for no obvious reason. If your furnace is running but not reaching temperature or it’s blowing cold air, that’s also a sign of trouble. Don’t hesitate to call us – running a struggling furnace can often lead to bigger issues, so it’s wise to fix it early.
Absolutely worth it! Think of maintenance like an oil change for your car. A tune-up will improve efficiency (saving you money on PG&E bills), increase reliability (fewer sudden breakdowns), and extend the life of your furnace. Small issues are corrected before they cause major damage. According to ENERGY STAR, regular maintenance can retain your system’s efficiency and prevent up to 95% of breakdowns. It also ensures your furnace is operating safely, with clean burners and no gas leaks or CO issues. It’s a modest investment that pays off in performance and peace of mind.
This depends on factors we discussed above (see the “Repair vs. Replace” section). In summary, if your furnace is over ~15 years old and needs a costly repair (near 50% of replacement cost), or if it has multiple problems, it’s often better to replace. A new unit will be more efficient and reliable. However, if it’s a newer furnace or a minor issue, repair makes sense. We’ll happily assess your specific situation and give an honest recommendation. Our goal is to help you make the most cost-effective and safe choice for your home.
A heat pump can act as both your heater and air conditioner in one system, which is very convenient. In Shasta County’s climate (moderate winters, hot summers), heat pumps are very efficient – they can drastically cut heating costs because they move heat instead of generating it. They’re also all-electric, which eliminates gas fuel. The downside is they can have higher upfront cost, and very cold nights might reduce their efficiency slightly (though modern units handle cold well). Traditional gas furnaces, on the other hand, provide strong heat output and can be cheaper to run if gas prices are low. Some homeowners stick with gas for the robust heating, while others love heat pumps for the efficiency and eco-friendliness. There’s even dual-fuel systems that give you the best of both. It really comes down to your priorities; we install and service both types and can guide you based on your needs.
Yes we do! We understand that a new HVAC system or major repair can be an unexpected expense. To help, we’ve partnered with financing companies (like Wisetack) to offer flexible payment plans for qualified customers. These can break the cost into manageable monthly payments, sometimes with promotional 0% interest periods. We’ll walk you through the options during your estimate. Additionally, we keep an eye on rebates and special offers – for example, there are sometimes utility rebates for high-efficiency heat pumps or furnaces that we can help you apply for. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to get the safe, comfortable home you deserve.
Thank you for reading The Ultimate Guide to Furnace Repair, Maintenance, and Installation in Shasta County, CA. We hope you found this information helpful and reassuring. At the end of the day, staying warm shouldn’t be stressful. With a bit of knowledge and a reliable HVAC partner (👋 Hi from Infinity!), you can enjoy a cozy home all winter while keeping energy costs in check.
Stay warm, stay safe, and remember – we’re here whenever you need us. Feel free to reach out to Infinity Heating & Air for any furnace or HVAC needs, big or small. We’re always happy to help our community with honest, quality service.
— The Infinity Heating & Air Team
