Locally-owned since 1977 • Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD) • NATE-certified technicians • Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer
Heating in Des Moines, WA
Whether it is a gas furnace, an electric furnace, a heat pump, a ductless system or a wall heater, our Sumner-based technicians fix it, tune it or replace it. Book through (425) 645-0404 or the form. Repair visits have a trip fee; the repair itself is quoted in writing first.
Down by the water the air stays damp and mild most of the winter, while homes up the hill catch more wind. Either way, the heat runs from early fall well into spring.
How Des Moines homes heat
- Gas furnaces in houses with PSE gas service, from the ramblers on the hill to the larger view homes.
- Electric wall heaters and baseboards in condos and apartments near the marina and along Pacific Highway, and in some older houses.
- Electric furnaces in homes without gas.
- Heat pumps and ductless systems, the usual upgrade when owners want lower bills and summer cooling.
Parts that usually fail
| System | Common repairs |
|---|---|
| Gas furnace | Ignitor, flame sensor, inducer motor, pressure switch, control board, blocked condensate line |
| Electric furnace | Heating elements, sequencers, relays, blower motor |
| Heat pump | Capacitor, contactor, defrost sensor or board, reversing valve, refrigerant leak, corroded coil |
| Ductless mini-split | Dirty filters and coil, blocked drain, sensor or communication faults |
| Wall heater or baseboard | Burned-out element, failed thermostat, limit switch, loose wiring |
Before you call, check the easy things: a clogged filter, a tripped breaker, dead thermostat batteries, or a furnace switch that someone turned off by mistake.
What repairs cost
For a sense of scale, published Seattle-area numbers put a typical furnace repair around $341, with most between $139 and $544 and major ones approaching $2,000 (Angi, Seattle furnace repair costs, updated August 2026). Those are not our prices. You see ours, in writing and option by option, before anything is fixed.
Heat pumps near the water
Heat pumps suit the mild winters along the Sound, but outdoor units close to the water need more care. Salt air corrodes coil fins and electrical connections, and a corroded coil loses efficiency long before it fails. A yearly cleaning, a check of the connections, and placement out of the direct wind all help the unit last.
Damp crawlspaces and ducts
On sloped lots, crawlspaces tend to stay damp through the rainy season. Ducts running through them lose insulation and come apart at the joints, and a room at the end of the run stays cold no matter how long the furnace runs. We check the ducts before blaming the furnace, and seal or reconnect them when that is the real problem.
Closed windows and indoor air
In the north end, under the Sea-Tac flight path, many people keep their windows shut most of the year. That puts more of the job on the furnace or heat pump fan to keep air moving and filtered. A deeper media filter, a fan setting that circulates air between heating cycles, and a clean return path make a noticeable difference.
Repair or replace?
Repair makes sense when the system is younger and the part is common. Price a replacement too when:
- It is past about 15 years and the repair involves a major part.
- You have paid for several repairs over the last two winters.
- Some rooms never warm up, or your bills keep rising.
- A cracked heat exchanger or a failed safety test.
See furnace replacement in Des Moines for options, or ask about a heat pump that also cools.
Fall tune-ups
A tune-up before the first cold week catches problems early. The visit covers burners, flame sensor and ignitor, every safety switch, gas pressure, combustion, the heat exchanger, the condensate line, blower and airflow, and the thermostat. Heat pumps also get a refrigerant check, a defrost test and a coil cleaning.
Carbon monoxide safety
Every home with a gas furnace, water heater or fireplace needs working carbon monoxide alarms near the bedrooms. If one sounds, get everyone outside and call 911. Venting and the heat exchanger are part of every gas furnace inspection we do.
Rebates for switching (September 2026)
Puget Sound Energy supplies electricity and gas in Des Moines (City of Des Moines, Community Services Directory). Switching from electric resistance heat to a heat pump earns $1,500 from PSE (PSE electric resistance to heat pump rebate); keeping a gas furnace and adding a heat pump earns the same (PSE hybrid heat pump rebate). Income-qualified homes can get up to $2,400 more through Efficiency Boost. As a PSE Trade Ally for HVAC, we file it.
Get an estimateA comfort advisor will call you to set up your visit.
Condo and apartment heating
Wall heaters are cheap to install and expensive to run, and in a condo with big windows facing the water they can struggle on windy nights. A ductless heat pump with one or two indoor heads usually heats the space for much less and adds cooling. Most buildings have rules about where an outdoor unit can go and how lines run on the exterior, so start with your HOA. We can give you a written proposal with photos and placement for the board to review.
Thermostats and settings
A thermostat set up for the wrong equipment can make a good system look broken. Heat pumps that call for backup electric heat too early drive up bills, and a thermostat on a sunny wall or near a drafty window shuts the heat off too soon. We check the wiring and settings and can add a smart or zoned control when upstairs and downstairs need different temperatures.
When to call right away
- Gas smell: get outside, then call PSE or 911.
- A carbon monoxide alarm is going off.
- No heat during a freeze with babies or elderly family in the house.
- Water under the furnace, or a hot, burning smell at the registers.
How our technicians work
We have been in Puget Sound homes since 1977, and we are licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD). Expect to see the failed part, get the price on paper, and find the area clean when we leave. More on our heating and cooling repairs, or see all Des Moines services.
Warranty and Home Comfort Club
We support the manufacturer’s warranty on covered equipment parts, and we stand behind our heating installations with a 1-year labor warranty from installation.
Join our Home Comfort Club, a monthly membership starting at $15 a month, and the labor warranty on repairs is extended for as long as your prepaid membership runs, up to 5 years from installation. Ask your technician or comfort advisor for the current plan details.
Des Moines heating FAQ
What does a furnace repair usually cost?
Published Seattle-area figures show most repairs at $139 to $544, averaging roughly $341, and the big ones up to about $2,000 (Angi, Seattle furnace repair costs, updated August 2026). We quote yours in writing once we know what failed.
My condo has wall heaters. Can you help?
Yes. We repair and replace electric wall heaters, baseboards and their thermostats, and we can quote a ductless heat pump if you want lower bills and cooling. Check your HOA’s rules for outdoor units before installation.
Fix it, or time for a new one?
If it is 15 years old or more, needs a major part, or has needed several repairs lately, price a replacement too. Our Des Moines furnace replacement page covers the options and costs.
Is there a rebate to switch from baseboards to a heat pump?
If PSE is your electric utility, yes: $1,500 as of September 2026, and up to $2,400 more for income-qualified homes (PSE electric resistance to heat pump rebate).
Why does my furnace keep shutting off?
The usual causes are a clogged filter, a dirty flame sensor, a blocked condensate drain or a failing pressure switch. Change the filter first; if it keeps happening, call us.
How often does a heating system need service?
Yearly, before the heating season starts. For heat pumps near the water, add a coil cleaning to that visit.
What warranty comes with your work?
We support the manufacturer’s warranty on covered equipment parts, and our labor warranty covers installations for 1 year from installation. Home Comfort Club members (monthly membership starting at $15 a month) get the labor warranty on repairs extended for as long as their prepaid membership runs, up to 5 years from installation.
Why Choose Home Comfort Alliance in Des Moines?
Your Comfort is Our Promise
We promise...
Reliable heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical service, all from one trusted company.
To educate and guide you through your options so you’ll find the right solution at the right price.
Knowledgeable and respectful workers who ensure both your own comfort during the installation process, and lasting comfort from your home systems.
Outstanding service, communication, and follow-up, so your home is comfortable now and for years to come.
Get a heating estimate in Des Moines
A Sumner-based comfort advisor will set up your visit, and our technician will give you a written price before any work starts.
Get an estimate
A Sumner-based comfort advisor will call you to set up your visit.