The short answer
MasterFix repairs furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners and ductless systems for homeowners in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and La Honda, with 24/7 emergency service available. Bay Area Air District rules do not force you to replace working equipment, so repair is often a reasonable choice. We help you weigh repair against replacement.
MasterFix HVAC Repair Service travels from our San Jose base, about 27 miles, to repair heating and cooling systems in southern San Mateo County. We work on furnaces, heat pumps, central air conditioners, ductless mini-splits, and the thermostats and ductwork that connect them. On every visit, our goal is to find the actual cause of the problem, explain it in plain terms, and give you clear options before any work starts.
Common HVAC Repairs We Handle
Most service calls start with a simple complaint: no heat, weak airflow, warm air from the vents, or a strange noise. We test the system step by step so you aren't paying for parts that don't fix the issue.
- Furnaces that won't ignite, short-cycle, or shut off early
- Heat pumps stuck in one mode or icing up
- Air conditioners blowing warm air or leaking water
- Ductless mini-split errors and drainage problems
- Thermostat wiring, sensor and control faults
- Blower motors, capacitors and fan issues
Serving East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and La Honda
The communities we serve in San Mateo County sit in very different settings. East Palo Alto and Menlo Park are on the flat land near the Bay. Portola Valley is in the foothills, and La Honda is over the ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, on the coastal side.
Because of these differences, heating and cooling needs vary from one home to the next. Some households depend mostly on heat during damp winter months, while others want reliable cooling on warmer days. We look at how your home is actually used before recommending repairs or upgrades. For homes on narrow or winding roads, it helps to share access details when you book.
Repair or Replace? What Local Rules Mean for You
San Mateo County falls under the Bay Area Air District. Its appliance rules do not require you to replace working equipment. They apply only when an existing furnace or water heater fails or is replaced. If your system can be repaired safely and economically, you can keep using it.
Plan ahead, though. Under the Air District's furnace rule, natural gas furnaces manufactured from 2029 must meet a zero-NOx standard. In practice, that points homeowners toward heat pumps when they replace a furnace after that date. The zero-NOx date for small water heaters was set for 2027, but the Air District Board is considering amendments in November 2026 that could delay it, so check the current rule before planning a water heater replacement.
The federal 25C tax credit for heat pumps applied only to equipment placed in service before December 31, 2025, so it is not available for new installations. You can still check BayREN and your local clean energy provider for current incentives. Those offers change by funding cycle, so we confirm the current offer before we quote it.
Emergency Service and What to Do Before We Arrive
We offer 24/7 emergency service for situations like a failed furnace on a cold night or a system that trips the breaker repeatedly. Before you call, check that the thermostat is set correctly, the filter isn't clogged, and the breaker hasn't tripped. If you smell gas, leave the house and contact your gas utility first.