Day-to-Day Comfort... Year-to-Year Confidence
For fast, reliable solutions...
Call (574) 674-0841

Special Offers

  • NO CAP SAVINGS on Geothermal equipment and installation --  SAVE UP TO 30% OF THE COST with Federal Tax Credits
  • REPLACEMENT REBATES FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA on qualifying furnace, boiler, air conditioner, air source heat pump or geothermal replacement systems
  • SAVE UP TO $1500 with Federal Tax Credits on  the installation of qualifying furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners
  • NIPSCO REBATES available on qualifying furnace, boiler and water heater equipment in Indiana

Furnace Repair, Service & Maintenance - South Bend Indiana, Mishawaka, Granger and Elkhart, licensed in southern Michigan and all of Michiana

Furnace repair, service and maintenance are three things you don’t want to have delayed. That’s why Four Winds provides 24-hour emergency service, and guarantees your emergency call will be returned within four hours, or we’ll take $25 off your service call!

Furnace repair … furnace cleaning… furnace maintenance. None of these have probably made it to your “Top Ten Fun Things to Do” list, have they? But who
of us hasn’t awakened at least once to a chilled nose sticking out of a warm bed and wondered what’s up with the furnace?

At Four Winds, we encourage our clients to avoid furnace repair by proactively engaging in consistent furnace maintenance. Quite honestly, it serves ALL of us better to not have to make “emergency” furnace repair calls. Because we so sincerely want to be able to help our customers as soon as possible, preventative maintenance allows us to be responsive instead of reactive. That’s why we offer affordable annual spring and fall check-ups for one furnace and one air conditioner, all for only $140. Or, if you don’t wish to commit long-term, we’ll perform a check-up for your furnace OR air conditioner for $85.

While a qualified technician should perform most maintenance tasks to your furnace, there are a few procedures the equipment owner can perform. Want to save the cost of an emergency house call on your furnace? Check a few things first and you may avoid an unexpected expense! These are the things we will check first if we make a service call. The only difference? We’ll have to charge you for our time, even for these simple “fixes”; and we don’t want that any more than you do!

FOR ALL FURNACES…..

Insufficient air flow: If you sense a change in air flow, a dirty air filter is the most likely culprit. Inspect the air filter, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Another cause of insufficient air flow is a blocked return-air or supply-air grill.
Be sure all of these grills are not covered by furniture or other items.

Furnace fails to operate: If your furnace fails to operate, follow these step-by-step instructions, and proceed only to the next step if the furnace fails to start:

  1. Check the source. Make sure your room thermostat temperature is set above the house temperature and the SYSTEM switch is in the HEAT position (on a heating/cooling thermostat).
  2. Check the house fuse box for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
  3. Check the blower access panel. It must be firmly in place for the unit to operate.
  4. Check the air filter. An extremely dirty air filter can cause furnace safety controls to shut down the system.

If you have an ELECTRIC FURNACE….that’s about all you can do! Give us a call!

If you have a GAS FURNACE…..

  1. Is the power supply switch (often mounted on or near the unit) turned to “on”?
  2. On electric ignition units, turn the room thermostat “off” then back “on” to reset the ignition control.
  3. Check to be sure the manual shut-off valve in the gas supply pipe leading to your furnace is in the “open” position. The valve is “open” if the lever points in the same direction the pipe runs, and is closed if the lever is at a right angle to the pipe. AFTER CONFIRMING THE GAS IS NOT TURNED OFF FOR SAFETY REASONS, if the valve is closed, open it, and then follow the startup procedures on your unit.
     
  4. NOTE: Before proceeding to the next step, turn OFF the electrical power supply to your furnace and remove burner access panel.
     
  5.  Is the internal manual shutoff valve open? (Electronic ignition units only.)
  6. Check the manual knob on the gas valve to be sure it is in the “on” position.
  7. If you have a standing pilot furnace, visually check the pilot flame. If the pilot is not lit, follow the manufacturer’s startup procedures.


FOR OIL BURNING FURNACES ONLY….

  1. Check the flue for blockage.
  2. Is there oil in the fuel tank?
  3. Is the supply valve at the fuel tank open?
  4. Is there air in the fuel line? (Check manufacturer’s directions for information on bleeding air from the system.)

If, after checking the items listed above that pertain to your type of furnace and finding the furnace still does not operate, it sounds like you need more help than the “basics”. Call us for service. We’ll be happy to help, and even happier that the “simple fixes” are already checked out, saving you money and saving us time.

Furnace repair and maintenance service is a staple of our business at Four Winds Custom Heating and Air Conditioning….but there comes a point when the scale tips and servicing or repairing your furnace is no longer prudent. But who can best judge when that tipping point occurs? A contractor who’s greatest profitability is in furnace replacement? Or one who serves a well-balanced mix of service and installation?

Repair …. or Replace? You may want to consider upgrading your furnace if:
...some of your rooms are too hot or cold. Duct problems, inadequate air sealing or insulation could be the cause. No matter how efficient your heating and cooling system is, if your home is not properly sealed and insulated against air leakage, you will not be as comfortable and your system will have to work harder.
…your home has humidity problems and/or excessive dust. Poorly operating or improperly sized equipment could be to blame. Leaky ductwork can also cause these problems, so having it sealed may be a solution. Monthly maintenance of your heating and cooling equipment’s filters may also help.
…your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up. In addition to the rise in energy costs, the age and condition of your heating equipment may have caused it to become less efficient.
…your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old. Consider replacing it with ENERGY STAR® qualified equipment. ENERGY STAR has set high efficiency guidelines for both types of heating systems.
....you leave your thermostat set at one constant temperature. You could be missing a great energy-saving opportunity. A programmable thermostat adjusts your home’s temperature at times when you’re regularly away or sleeping.
…your score on the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick is below five. That means you’re using more energy at home than most Americans and probably paying more than you need to on energy bills. Get personalized recommendations to improve your home and/or heating and cooling system. Find the Home Energy Yardstick at www.energystar.gov. Click on Home Energy Analysis.

Source: “A Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Home Maintenance Checklist for Fall and Winter
General guidelines for keeping your home warm and efficient:

  • Have a qualified HVAC professional inspect your home’s ductwork and heating and cooling equipment.
  • Set your thermostat to 68°F when you’re at home and awake, and as low as 63°F when you’re asleep or away.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters every month.
  • Clean chimney and check to see if your fireplace is working properly.
  • Seal air leaks in the attic, basement and crawlspace, and also around windows and doors.
  • Insulate inside of windows with heavy-duty, clear plastic sheets.
  • Check your attic for proper insulation. (The U.S. Department of Energy suggests a value between R-22 and R-49.)
  • Close curtains or shades at night and keep them open during the day.
  • Clean windows on the south side of your house to maximize sunlight exposure.
  • Weather-strip doors that lead to cold or outside areas.
  • Wrap and insulate waterlines to prevent them from freezing.
  • Repair leaky faucets.

Extra steps you can take to save energy:

  • Install a programmable thermostat, so you can preset temperatures for different times of the day.
  • Insulate the water tank and first six feet of hot and cold water pipes connected to the unit.
  • Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120°F. (for every 10-degree decrease in temperature, you may save 3% - 5% on your energy costs).
  • Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and use switch plates on exterior walls.
  • Install low-flow showerheads.

Things you can do to improve air quality and reduce potential health risks:

  • When adjusting clocks, change batteries in smoke alarms, as well as radon and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Consider a ventilation system to increase air circulation inside and add a healthy dose of fresh air.
  • Reduce the potential for buildup of allergy-causing pollutants by keeping your house clean.
  • Take special precaution when operating fuel-burning appliances to avoid leakage.


Over 80 percent of our furnace repair and maintenance business is established through the referrals of friends and relatives of our current customers. They are able to recommend Four Winds Heating & Air Conditioning as serving The Bigger Picture. This has earned us a reputation for honesty, integrity and dependability. For furnace repair, service or maintenance, call Four Winds, for day-to-day comfort, year-to-year confidence!