Fast, Reliable Heating & Furnace Across Van Nuys
Heating and furnace repair in Van Nuys typically runs $150–$700 for most repairs, while full furnace replacement for the area’s older homes generally falls between $3,500–$7,500. Most service calls in Van Nuys can be scheduled same-day or next-day, with emergency heating service available when temperatures drop into the 40s during Valley winter nights. Call (877) 454-5066 for a free estimate.
We’ve been driving the same Van Nuys streets for nearly two decades, from the postwar ranchers near Kittridge Street to the two-story apartment buildings lining Van Nuys Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard. Anthony Moreno, our founder and lead installer, still carries the tools himself. That matters here because Van Nuys heating problems aren’t generic. The 1950s–1970s tract homes that dominate this neighborhood were built with gravity wall furnaces or early forced-air systems, and many are hitting the end of their usable life all at once. When your floor furnace fails on a January night and the parts haven’t been manufactured since the Reagan administration, you need someone who knows the local housing stock, not a dispatcher reading from a script.
Why Meridian Heating & Air Los Angeles Is Van Nuys’s Preferred Heating & Furnace Company
Our Heating & Furnace team has handled hundreds of calls across Van Nuys’s 91470, 91482, 91496, and 91499 ZIP codes. The reviews tell part of the story: 286 customers and counting, averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars. But the number that matters more to us is 19, the years Anthony Moreno has spent personally installing, repairing, and troubleshooting HVAC systems in the San Fernando Valley.
Here’s what that means on the ground. When we get a call from a homeowner near Van Nuys High School or the Sherman Oaks border, Anthony shows up on the job. Not a subcontractor. Not a technician we’ve never met. The same person who founded the company, who knows how the Valley’s thermal basin affects equipment differently than coastal LA, who can spot a cracked heat exchanger in a 1962 wall furnace before the carbon monoxide detector ever trips.
Response time matters in Van Nuys because the Valley cools off fast once the sun drops behind the Santa Monica Mountains. We keep parts stocked for the brands we see most in local homes: Goodman, Rheem, and York units are common in these neighborhoods, and we carry components that let us finish most repairs in a single visit.
Our Heating & Furnace Services in Van Nuys
Furnace Repair
Most furnace repairs in Van Nuys fall between $150–$700, depending on whether we’re replacing a failed ignitor, fixing a gas valve, or tracking down an electrical fault in a control board. The Valley’s extreme temperature swings, summer highs of 108–112°F followed by winter lows in the 40s, stress every component. We see a lot of short-cycling caused by undersized return ducts in 1970s attic retrofits, and we fix pilot assemblies on legacy equipment when parts are still available.
Furnace Replacement
Full furnace replacement in Van Nuys typically costs $3,500–$7,500, with the higher end covering high-efficiency units and necessary duct modifications. This is where Van Nuys’s housing stock gets specific. Many homes still have original floor furnaces or wall heaters from the 1950s–60s. The burner racks rust out. The heat exchangers crack. And the parts, like Robertshaw or Honeywell round thermostats and certain pilot assemblies, simply aren’t manufactured anymore. We got a call from a homeowner on Kittridge Street whose 1964 floor furnace rattled and failed to light. The burner rack was rusted beyond safe operation, replacement parts discontinued. We installed a new high-efficiency Carrier downflow unit in the crawlspace, sealing the old floor grille, a common retrofit in Van Nuys’s 1950s ranchers. Every replacement we do in Van Nuys requires an LADBS mechanical permit and inspection, which we handle as part of the project.
Furnace Tune-Up
A furnace tune-up in Van Nuys runs $80–$200 and should happen before the first cold snap, usually by late October. We check gas pressure, combustion analysis, heat exchanger integrity, and airflow across the coil. In Van Nuys, we pay special attention to attic units because those spaces hit 150–160°F in summer, degrading flex duct connectors and mastic seals. A furnace that worked fine in April can fail in December because a duct pulled loose in August’s heat.
Heat Exchanger Inspection & Replacement
Cracked heat exchangers are a safety issue we take seriously, especially in Van Nuys’s original wall furnaces from the 1950s–60s. Carbon monoxide can leak into living spaces. If we find a crack, we red-tag the unit and discuss replacement options. Due to LADBS code restrictions, we cannot reuse old gas lines or venting on these legacy systems, so replacement is typically the only viable path. Heat exchanger replacement alone, when possible on newer units, runs toward the higher end of our repair range.
Ignitor Replacement & Gas Valve Repair
Failed hot surface ignitors and sticking gas valves are common calls we handle across Van Nuys. Ignitor replacement is usually a straightforward repair. Gas valve issues can be more complex, particularly on older systems where the valve model has been superseded multiple times. We work on your brand, whether it’s a current Goodman, Rheem, or York unit or something older where we need to cross-reference part numbers.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Van Nuys
We maintain hands-on experience with nine major HVAC brands: Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. In Van Nuys specifically, we see a lot of Goodman and Rheem furnaces in 1980s–90s retrofits, and York package units on the apartment buildings along Sepulveda Boulevard. We stock common ignitors, gas valves, and control boards for these brands locally, which means faster turnaround for Van Nuys customers. When a Daikin mini split or heat pump needs attention, we’re factory-trained on those systems too. The point is: you’re not limited to whatever brand one manufacturer pushes. We diagnose the actual problem and source the right part, not the only part we have in the truck.
Common Heating & Furnace Problems We See in Van Nuys Homes
- Original wall furnaces with cracked heat exchangers. Common in 1950s–60s homes near Van Nuys Boulevard. These cannot be repaired safely. LADBS code restrictions on reusing old gas lines mean entire system replacement is required.
- Attic retrofits with undersized return-air ducts. The 1970s tract houses near Kittridge and nearby streets have duct systems crammed into 150–160°F attics. Return ducts too small for today’s loads cause gas furnaces to short-cycle on high-limit trips during Valley heat waves.
- Failed pilot safety thermocouples on legacy Rheem or Coleman furnaces. Regulatory changes after 2023 made certain parts vanish from supply chains. What was a $150 fix now forces full replacement.
- Floor furnace burner rack rust-out. The 1964 unit we replaced on Kittridge Street is representative. Decades of moisture in crawlspaces corrodes steel components beyond safe operation.
Pricing for Heating & Furnace in Van Nuys, CA
Here’s what Van Nuys homeowners can expect:
| Service | Typical Range in Van Nuys |
|---|---|
| Furnace Repair | $150–$700 |
| Furnace Replacement | $3,500–$7,500 |
| Tune-Up | $80–$200 |
Several factors push costs toward the higher end. Attic access difficulty in 1970s retrofits. Necessary duct modifications to meet current LADBS code. High-efficiency upgrades requiring new venting. And the permit process itself, which we manage but which adds time and inspection fees compared to neighboring cities with looser requirements.
We don’t quote over the phone for replacement work because Van Nuys homes have too many variables. A free on-site estimate lets us measure airflow, inspect existing ductwork, and specify the right equipment. Call (877) 454-5066 to schedule.
We Also Serve Cities Near Van Nuys
Our service area extends to Valley Glen, Sherman Oaks, Encino, and North Hills. Many of our Van Nuys customers found us through referrals from family in these neighboring communities. The Valley’s thermal basin creates similar heating challenges across all these ZIP codes, though Van Nuys’s specific mix of 1950s–70s housing and LADBS jurisdiction gives it a distinct service profile.
Serving Van Nuys, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Van Nuys area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs — Heating & Furnace in Van Nuys
Usually no. Robertshaw and Honeywell round thermostats, specific pilot assemblies, and burner racks for 1950s–60s floor and wall furnaces have been discontinued for years. We assess what you have, but most legacy Van Nuys floor furnaces require replacement with a modern unit. Call (877) 454-5066 and we’ll inspect what’s there.
Yes. Because Van Nuys falls under City of Los Angeles jurisdiction, every HVAC changeout, even a straight equipment swap, requires an LADBS mechanical permit and inspection. Neighboring cities like Burbank or Glendale don’t have this requirement. We handle permits as part of our replacement projects.
It can be. Short-cycling on high-limit trips indicates overheating, often from undersized return ducts in 1970s retrofits. The furnace works harder, heat exchanger stress increases, and cracked metal can leak combustion gases. We inspect duct sizing and airflow as part of our diagnostic. Call (877) 454-5066 before cold weather arrives.
Most gas furnace replacements in Van Nuys run $3,500–$7,500, with the higher end covering high-efficiency units, duct modifications, and LADBS permit costs. Older homes with floor furnaces or wall heaters typically need more extensive retrofit work. We provide exact quotes after a free on-site evaluation.
The thermocouple or pilot assembly has likely failed, and replacement parts for many 1960s-era furnaces are no longer manufactured after 2023 regulatory changes. What was once a simple repair often forces full system replacement in Van Nuys’s legacy housing stock. We can confirm with a service call.
Written by Anthony Moreno, Owner at Meridian Heating & Air Los Angeles, serving Van Nuys and the San Fernando Valley since 2005.