Blog

Furnace and A/C guides for Salt Lake City homeowners

Plain answers about the heating and cooling problems we actually see in Salt Lake City homes, written by our own team.

5.0 on Google Real Photo Proof Licensed & Insured Locally Owned
Guides

Every guide we have written

SEASONAL GUIDE

When should you winterize your swamp cooler in Utah?

The late-September-to-October window, what a real shutdown includes, and what skipping it costs in spring — pads, pumps, split lines and all.

Read more →
FILTERS

How often should you change your furnace filter in Utah?

The real cadence for Utah homes — 1″ every 3 months, 5″ media about every 6 — plus the filter-aisle mistake that quietly chokes your airflow.

Read more →
BEFORE YOU CALL

What to check before you call for A/C or furnace repair

A 2-minute checklist — power, thermostat, ice on the lines, the outdoor unit, the filter, the vents — plus a free checklist you can save to your phone and exactly when to stop and call a pro.

Read more →
TROUBLESHOOTING

A/C not cooling? 7 things to check first

Thermostat, power, filter, ice on the lines, the outdoor fan — the seven things worth checking before you call, and when it’s past a DIY fix.

Read more →
AIRFLOW

Bad airflow? Check your filter and vents first

A dirty or backwards filter and closed-off vents cause more airflow problems than any failing part. Here is what to check yourself, and how to tell when it is something bigger.

Read more →
KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

What should a technician check during a tune-up?

Static pressure, airflow CFM, a camera inspection, carbon monoxide readings, capacitors and amp draws are what a real tune-up measures. Here is everything covered by a $110 health inspection, so you know exactly what to expect.

Read more →
KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY

Do I need a hard start kit?

Only if your measured startup amps exceed the FLA rating on the nameplate. Here is what your technician should show you before you pay for one.

Read more →
COMFORT & EFFICIENCY

3-story home? Even out the temperature between floors

If the top floor bakes while the basement stays cold, one thermostat setting — running the fan about 15 minutes an hour — mixes the air between floors. Here is how to set it, and the one catch.

Read more →
COMFORT & EFFICIENCY

Why insulating attic & crawlspace ducts beats sealing

If your ducts run through a hot attic or cold crawlspace, insulation does more than sealing ever will — here’s why, and the signs your ducts need it.

Read more →
STRAIGHT ADVICE

Is Aeroseal worth it?

The truth about pricey inside-the-duct sealing — whether it actually works, what it costs, and the smarter, cheaper way to seal the ducts that really need it.

Read more →
TROUBLESHOOTING

A/C capacitor problems: signs, testing & catching one early

The cheap part that takes out the expensive ones — signs of a bad capacitor, how it’s tested (dual-run MFD), and why catching a weak one early saves your motor and compressor.

Read more →
STRAIGHT ADVICE

Do you really need duct cleaning?

A straight answer: your ducts usually aren’t the problem. Here’s where your airflow actually gets choked — and where your money is better spent.

Read more →
SAFETY

A cracked furnace flue is a CO risk

A leaking furnace exhaust can put carbon monoxide where it doesn’t belong. Here is what we look for, and why a carbon monoxide test is part of every furnace job.

Read more →
SAFETY

The outdoor A/C disconnect, done right

That little box beside your A/C is a required safety device, and plenty of them turn up burned or corroded. Here is why it matters and what a clean fix looks like.

Read more →
BUYER’S GUIDE

What a proper HVAC install actually looks like

A new system is only as good as the install. Here’s what to look for — right-sizing, commissioning — and what to ask whoever quotes you.

Read more →
REAL JOB

Why we replaced this filter drier

We found a leak — and replacing the filter drier was non-negotiable. Here’s what it does and why it gets replaced any time the system is opened.

Read more →
REAL JOB

Cleaning a secondary heat exchanger

A caked heat exchanger chokes airflow and wastes fuel. See the before-and-after and what cleaning it does for comfort and efficiency.

Read more →
BUYING GUIDE

How much does a new furnace cost in Utah?

A clear 2026 breakdown of furnace replacement pricing in Salt Lake City — what really drives the price, which efficiency tier fits, and how to avoid overpaying.

Read more →
TROUBLESHOOTING

Why is my A/C freezing up?

Ice on the coil or the copper lines almost always comes down to airflow or refrigerant. Here is what you can safely check yourself, and why “just add refrigerant” is the wrong fix.

Read more →
TROUBLESHOOTING

Furnace won’t turn on? 7 things to check

When the furnace will not fire, run through these seven quick checks — thermostat, power, filter, gas and the blower door switch — before you call, plus how to tell when it is time for a technician.

Read more →
COMFORT & EFFICIENCY

Why is my upstairs so hot? (And how to actually fix it)

When the upstairs runs hot and the basement runs cold, here is what is really going on — and the fixes (air balancing, attic duct sealing and insulation) that beat buying a bigger A/C.

Read more →
MAINTENANCE

The two parts that quietly kill your furnace & A/C

Your evaporator coil and secondary heat exchanger are the parts you never see — and the ones that cost you the most when they get dirty.

Read more →
BUYING GUIDE

Heat pump vs. A/C + furnace in Utah

A clear breakdown of which system actually fits your Salt Lake City home, your bills, and the rebates you could capture.

Read more →
Book a technician

Emergency repair, days, evenings and weekends

Some problems need a technician with gauges on the system. Canyon Comfort is run by the owner, who takes after-hours calls from Ogden down to Provo and out to Heber, and every visit is priced up front so you know the rate before anyone comes out. Call or text in the morning and we can usually be at your house the same day, inside the windows below.

$80

A/C or furnace service call

Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 6:00pm. Weeknights until 10:00pm and all weekend add $40.

$110

Health inspection

A/C or furnace, each with a written System Health Report you keep. Both systems together is $180.

Our work

See the difference a careful job makes

Real Canyon Comfort jobs from around Salt Lake City.

Use the arrows to browse our work — tap a photo to read its story.

View our full photo gallery →
Ask Canyon Comfort

Got an HVAC question?

Ask it on the online quote page: a real answer, a second opinion, or a firm quote, whichever you need.

Ask a Question →

Ready to have someone look at it?

Canyon Comfort takes emergency A/C and furnace calls Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 10:00pm, Saturday from 8:00am to 10:00pm, and Sunday from 8:00am to 9:00pm. Call or text in the morning and you can have a technician at the house the same day. We take on multi-day repairs — diagnosed completely, quoted in full, and finished by us.

While you wait

Portable A/C rental while you wait on a repair

Usually same-day: two high-efficiency portable units and a portable swamp cooler, $150 plus $20 a day.

Portable A/C Rental →