Heater Not Turning On in Orange County? 9 Rainy Season Causes & Fast Fixes (Yorba Linda + Anaheim Hills 2025-2026)
Every single year it's the exact same thing. First real rain hits north Orange County, temperature drops into the 50s overnight, and my phone blows up. Last week alone we did 23 "no heat" calls after that Thursday storm - all Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Brea, Placentia, Villa Park. Same handful of problems every time.
Jared here - owner of J Martin Indoor Air Quality. We're the family shop at 4212 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807. Been doing this 15+ years and I still answer the phone myself half the nights.
If you woke up cold this week, here's exactly what's probably wrong with your furnace or heat pump.
1. Clogged condensate drain
Biggest offender once the rain starts. Newer furnaces make water when they run. That little drain line sits idle all summer and gets full of algae, dust, and slime. First cold night the line backs up and the furnace shuts itself down so it doesn't flood your closet or attic. Takes us 10 minutes to clear and we add a $29 float switch so it never happens again.
2. Dirty or wet flame sensor
Moisture sneaks into the burner box, sensor gets a film on it, can't "see" the flame anymore. Instant lockout. We just pull it, clean it with steel wool, good as new.
3. Igniter finally gave up the ghost
Sat dormant since March, gets brittle, cracks the first night you actually need heat.
4. Blower capacitor popped
Humidity jumps 40% the day it rains. Old capacitors hate that - they swell and die. We carry every size on the trucks.
5. Thermostat went blank or lost its mind
Power flickers during the storm and the smart thermostat reboots into la-la land. Or the old round Honeywell finally dies after 25-30 years. Still see those everywhere in Yorba Linda.
6. Pressure switch stuck open because the vent pipes got wet
Rain blows sideways into the PVC pipes on the roof. Switch thinks there's a blockage and refuses to let the furnace start.
7. Inducer motor seized
Dust + moisture on 10-15 year old units = locked-up motor. Loud squeal then nothing.
8. Control board got wet or took a surge
Water drips down the flue or a nearby lightning strike fries it.
9. Cracked heat exchanger (the one you never want to hear)
If anyone smells metal or has headaches - shut the system off immediately, open windows, and call us. We test for carbon monoxide free every single call.
What we actually check on every single no-heat call (takes us about 25-35 minutes)
Carbon monoxide test at every register (free, always)
Flame sensor cleaning
Drain line clearing
Igniter test
Capacitor test
Pressure switch test
Full airflow check
Thermostat calibration
Visual heat exchanger inspection
Filter condition
And about 11 more things on the checklist
Three real jobs from the last 7 days (details changed just enough for privacy)
Job 1 - Tuesday night, Via Arribo in Yorba Linda 2015-era high-efficiency furnace. Customer called at 9 p.m. - cold air only, blinking error lights. Got there fast, found the drain completely slimed shut from sitting all summer. Cleared it, added float switch, full test. Warm again before 11 p.m.
Job 2 - Thursday morning, Anaheim Hills off Weir Canyon Heat pump stuck in emergency/aux heat after the rain. Reversing valve wasn't shifting because wet leaves and gunk built up on the outdoor coil. Cleaned everything while we were there and it's running perfect now.
Job 3 - Friday afternoon, Brea near Carbon Canyon Older furnace making a horrible squeal then dead silence. Inducer motor finally seized after 18 years. Swapped it out same day - customer thought they were looking at a whole new system but walked away happy for a fraction of that.
60-second test you can do right now while you're reading this
Set thermostat to HEAT and 5 degrees above room temp
Listen at the furnace - clicking then silence? (igniter trying)
Feel the vents after 3 minutes - still cold air only?
Peek in the little window or door - blinking red light? Count the blinks and Google your model + error code.
If any of that sounds familiar, flip the breaker off to the furnace and call or text us at (714) 462-5712. Someone from the family answers 24/7 - even outside regular hours Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm.
The best way to avoid all this headache is a $198 tune-up right now before the next storm hits. We'll catch everything while it's still an easy fix.
"From the first phone call to the finished job, everyone at J Martin was friendly, honest, and professional. They saved us when our heat went out during the rain - same-day service and fair pricing. Highly recommend!"
Matthew K., Yorba Linda
Next storm is already in the forecast for this weekend and we're booking up fast. Call or text (714) 462-5712 or hit the book button below.
Stay warm out there,
Jared and the whole crew J Martin Indoor Air Quality 4212 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807 (714) 462-5712
FAQ - Heater Not Turning On Orange County
Why does my heater only fail when it rains in Orange County? Because moisture gets into places it never reaches the other 360 days of the year.
How much is a no-heat service call in Yorba Linda or Anaheim Hills? 95% are $198-$689
Do you do same-day service during storms? Yes - regular hours Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm, and anytime for emergencies.
When should I get a tune-up? Right now, before the next storm. Only $198.
Is a blank thermostat always bad? Not always - sometimes it's just a tripped breaker or loose wire. We check both.