Bravo Mechanical LLC — Licensed & insured HVAC contractor (License #8822) · 30+ years of combined HVAC experience · 1 Fowler Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701 · Serving all of Westchester County · (914) 361-9142 · 24/7 emergency service · Request a free written estimate

Furnace Not Igniting in Mount Vernon? 7 Things to Check Before Calling

Mount Vernon's older multi-family housing has predictable furnace ignition problems. Here are 7 fixes you can try before paying for a service call.

Published 2025-11-14 · Bravo Mechanical, Westchester County, NY

We get more no-heat calls from Mount Vernon (10550, 10552, 10553) than almost any other Westchester ZIP — partly because the housing stock is older, partly because thermostat batteries die in cold snaps. Try these before booking a tech.

1. Check the thermostat batteries

If your screen is dim, blank, or showing "low batt," replace the AAs. This is the #1 false alarm we see in Fleetwood and South Side.

2. Confirm the furnace switch is on

Mount Vernon furnaces almost always have a wall switch that looks like a light switch — usually red, sometimes mounted at the top of the basement stairs. If a kid or contractor flipped it, no heat.

3. Check the breaker

Look for a tripped 15A or 20A breaker labeled "furnace" or "boiler." Reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call us.

4. Inspect the air filter

A filter that's been in for 6+ months can choke airflow and trigger the high-limit safety, locking out ignition. Pull it out and try a cycle without one (briefly) to test.

5. Check the condensate drain (high-efficiency furnaces only)

If you have a 90%+ AFUE furnace and see water pooling near the unit, the condensate trap or pump may have failed — most furnaces lock out when the condensate switch trips.

6. Reset the unit

Turn the wall switch off for 60 seconds, then back on. Many modern furnaces require a hard reset after 3 failed ignition attempts.

7. Check gas service

Is the gas stove working? If no — call Con Edison, not us. If yes but the furnace won't fire, the gas valve solenoid or igniter has likely failed.

When to call Bravo

  • Cracked heat exchanger (carbon monoxide risk — leave the house)
  • Failed inducer motor
  • Failed igniter or flame sensor (most common, $150–$350 fix)
  • Failed gas valve ($350–$650)

Mount Vernon same-day service is usually available — call (914) 318-7368 or book online. 24/7 emergency dispatch for no-heat in winter.

Request service or a free written estimate or call (914) 361-9142. Serving all of Westchester County, NY.