There’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping into a warm home after braving the cold Pittsburgh winter. But when your heating system starts acting up or stops working altogether, that comfort disappears fast. At Pro Degree, we specialize in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, and we’re dedicated to making sure your home or business stays warm no matter how low the temperatures drop outside.
The Real Cost of Ignoring Heating Problems
Many people put off calling for heating repairs because they figure they can tough it out for a while. Maybe the system is still producing some heat, just not as much as usual. Or maybe there’s a weird smell or sound, but it’s not unbearable yet. Here’s the problem with that approach: small issues rarely stay small.
What starts as a minor problem can quickly snowball into a complete system failure. And when that happens, you’re not just dealing with discomfort. You’re looking at potentially frozen pipes, property damage, and much higher repair costs than if you’d addressed the issue early on. Plus, nobody wants to be without heat during the coldest weeks of the year.
At Pro Degree, we encourage our customers to call us at the first sign of trouble. It’s always better to catch problems early when they’re easier and cheaper to fix. Think of it as taking care of a small leak before it becomes a flood. The sooner you act, the better off you’ll be.
What Makes Your Heating System Stop Working?
Heating systems can fail for dozens of different reasons. Some problems are simple fixes, while others require more involved repairs.
Here’s what we see most often when customers call us for help:
- Your thermostat might be the culprit. Sometimes the problem isn’t with your furnace or boiler at all. A malfunctioning thermostat can make your system run constantly, not run at all, or cycle on and off at the wrong times. We can test your thermostat and either recalibrate it or recommend a replacement if needed.
- Dirty filters cause more problems than most people realize. When your air filter gets clogged with dust and debris, it restricts airflow through your system. This makes your furnace work harder, reduces efficiency, and can even cause the system to overheat and shut down. Changing your filter regularly is one of the simplest things you can do to prevent problems.
- Pilot lights and ignition systems can fail. If you have an older furnace with a standing pilot light, it can blow out and need to be relit. Newer systems use electronic ignition, which can also fail. Either way, no ignition means no heat. Our technicians can quickly diagnose ignition problems and get your system firing again.
- Wear and tear on mechanical parts is inevitable. Furnaces and boilers have motors, belts, bearings, and other moving parts that eventually wear out. When these components start to fail, you might hear grinding, squealing, or rattling sounds. Replacing worn parts before they fail completely can save you from a total breakdown.
- Ductwork issues can waste your heat. Even if your furnace is working perfectly, damaged or leaking ducts can mean that warm air never makes it to the rooms where you need it. Holes, gaps, or disconnected sections of ductwork are more common than you’d think, especially in older homes.
How We Approach Every Heating Call
When you contact Pro Degree for heating service, you can expect a consistent, professional approach every single time. We don’t cut corners, and we don’t leave until the job is done right.
First, we listen to you. You know your home or business better than anyone, and your observations about what’s happening with your heating system are valuable. Whether you’re hearing strange noises, noticing cold spots, or dealing with a complete shutdown, we want to hear all the details.
Next, we perform a thorough inspection. Our technicians don’t just look at the obvious problems. We check your entire system to make sure we’re not missing anything. Sometimes what seems like one issue is actually caused by something else entirely, and we want to get to the root of the problem.
Then we explain what we find in plain English. We know that most people aren’t heating experts, and that’s okay. We’ll walk you through what’s wrong with your system, what needs to be done to fix it, and what it’s going to cost. You’ll never get confusing technical jargon or vague explanations from our team.
Finally, we complete the repair efficiently and test everything to make sure it’s working properly. We don’t consider a job finished until your heating system is running the way it should and you’re satisfied with the results.
The Smart Way to Avoid Heating Emergencies
Want to know a secret? Most heating emergencies don’t have to happen. With proper maintenance and attention, you can prevent the majority of problems before they start.
Regular maintenance visits are your best defense against unexpected breakdowns. During a maintenance appointment, our technicians will clean your system, lubricate moving parts, check electrical connections, test safety controls, and look for any signs of wear or damage. These visits typically take less than an hour, but they can prevent hours of discomfort and hundreds or thousands of dollars in emergency repairs.
Maintenance also helps your system last longer. A well-maintained furnace or boiler can last 15 to 20 years or more, while a neglected system might need replacement after just 10 years. When you consider that a new heating system can cost several thousand dollars, those annual maintenance visits start looking like a pretty smart investment.
And there’s another benefit you might not have considered: efficiency. A clean, well-maintained system runs more efficiently than one that’s dirty and struggling. That means lower energy bills month after month. Over the course of a heating season, the money you save on utilities can offset much of the cost of maintenance.
Customized Solutions for Every Type of Property
At Pro Degree, we work with all kinds of customers in all kinds of buildings. Whether you’re a homeowner with a small ranch house or a business owner with a large commercial property, we have the expertise and equipment to handle your heating needs.
For homeowners, we service all types of residential heating systems. That includes forced air furnaces (gas, oil, or electric), boilers, heat pumps, radiant heating systems, and more. We work with all major brands and models, so it doesn’t matter what type of system you have. If it heats your home, we can fix it.
For businesses, we handle commercial heating systems of all sizes. We know that downtime can mean lost revenue, unhappy customers, and frustrated employees. That’s why we prioritize commercial calls and work quickly to get your heating system back online. We’ve worked with restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, warehouses, schools, and medical facilities throughout the Pittsburgh area.
We also work with property managers and landlords who are responsible for multiple units or buildings. We can set up maintenance schedules for all your properties, respond quickly when tenants report problems, and help you budget for repairs and replacements. Having a reliable heating contractor you can count on makes property management much less stressful.
What to Do When Your Heat Stops Working
If your heating system fails, don’t panic.
Here are some quick steps you can take while you’re waiting for help to arrive:
- Check your thermostat first. Make sure it’s set to “heat” mode and that the temperature setting is higher than the current room temperature. Also check the batteries if you have a battery-powered thermostat. This might sound too simple, but you’d be surprised how often this fixes the problem.
- Look at your circuit breaker. Your heating system has a dedicated circuit breaker that can trip if there’s an electrical issue. Check your breaker box to see if any breakers are in the “off” position or sitting between on and off. If you find one, flip it all the way off and then back on.
- Check your air filter. A severely clogged filter can cause your system to shut down. If you can’t remember the last time you changed it, that might be part of your problem. Go ahead and put in a new filter if you have one handy.
- Make sure your vents are open. Sometimes heating problems are caused by closed or blocked vents. Walk through your home or building and make sure all the vents are open and that furniture or other items aren’t blocking them.
After you’ve checked these things, give Pro Degree a call. Even if you managed to get your system running again, it’s worth having a professional take a look. Whatever caused the shutdown could happen again, and it’s better to address the underlying issue now.
Around-the-Clock Emergency Response
Heating emergencies don’t wait for convenient times to happen. Your system is just as likely to quit at midnight on Saturday as it is at noon on Tuesday. That’s why Pro Degree offers genuine 24/7/365 emergency service.
When we say 24/7/365, we mean it. Call us at any hour of any day, including weekends and holidays, and you’ll reach a real person who can help you. We don’t use answering services or make you leave a message and hope someone calls back. We answer the phone, and we dispatch a technician to your location right away.
Our emergency service covers the entire Pittsburgh metro area. Whether you’re in the city itself or in one of the surrounding communities, we’ll get someone to you as quickly as possible. We keep our service vehicles fully stocked with common parts and tools so that in many cases we can complete repairs on the first visit without having to order parts or come back another day.
We also understand that emergency repairs can be stressful, especially if they happen at an inconvenient time. Our technicians are not only skilled at what they do, but they’re also friendly, professional, and respectful of your home or business. We’ll work efficiently to get your heat back on and get you back to your normal routine.
Why Pittsburgh Trusts Pro Degree
The Pittsburgh area has plenty of heating contractors competing for your business. So what makes Pro Degree different? Why do so many customers choose us and then keep choosing us year after year?
It starts with our commitment to fair pricing. We believe you deserve honest, competitive rates for quality work. We’re not the cheapest option out there, but we’re also not the most expensive. What we are is the best value, because you’re getting experienced technicians, quality parts, and work that’s done right the first time.
Our technicians make the difference. Every member of our team is properly trained, licensed, and experienced. We don’t hire just anyone and send them out to work on your expensive heating system. We invest in our people through ongoing training and education so they stay current with the latest technology and techniques.
We respect your time and your property. When we schedule an appointment, we show up when we say we will. When we work in your home or business, we treat it with care. We use drop cloths to protect your floors, we clean up our work area, and we leave things better than we found them.
And perhaps most importantly, we stand behind our work. If something isn’t right, we make it right. We’re not satisfied until you’re satisfied, and we’re always just a phone call away if you have questions or concerns after we’ve completed a job.
Get Connected With Pro Degree Today
Your heating system is too important to ignore. Whether you need emergency repairs, routine maintenance, or you’re thinking about replacing an aging system, Pro Degree is here to help. We specialize in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, and we have the skills and experience to handle any situation.
Don’t wait until you’re shivering in the dark to find a heating contractor. Reach out to Pro Degree now and let’s make sure your system is ready for winter. We serve customers throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, and we’re ready to earn your trust and your business. Give us a call today and experience the Pro Degree difference for yourself.