Carrier is one of the oldest and largest names in heating and cooling — and if you own a Bryant or a Payne system, you effectively own a Carrier too. All three are built by the same parent company on shared platforms: they use the same control boards, the same diagnostic flash codes, and largely interchangeable parts. That's why a tech who really knows Carrier can service Bryant and Payne with the same confidence. Triton repairs all three across the East Bay, Tri-Valley, and Peninsula — from basic single-stage Payne furnaces to high-end Carrier Infinity and Bryant Evolution communicating systems — and we keep the common wear parts on the truck so most repairs are a single visit.
This page covers the Carrier, Bryant, and Payne equipment we service, the problems and fault codes we see most, and what a repair typically costs in the Bay Area.
Systems we repair
- Gas furnaces — 80% standard-efficiency and 90%+ condensing models, in single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed versions.
- Central air conditioners — condensers and matched indoor coils, including the Infinity/Evolution variable-capacity units.
- Heat pumps — for the growing number of Bay Area homes going all-electric, including variable-speed and cold-climate models.
- Infinity & Evolution communicating systems — the variable-speed, comm-bus equipment that talks to a matching Infinity or Evolution wall control. These need a tech who understands the communication bus, not just line-voltage parts.
Common Carrier problems we fix
- Limit / airflow lockouts (code 33). The furnace overheats and the high-limit trips, almost always from restricted airflow — a dirty filter, blocked vents, or a tired blower. Left alone, a 33 escalates to a 13 hard lockout and no heat.
- Pressure-switch & venting faults (code 31). The draft inducer, a blocked flue or intake, or a clogged condensate line keeps the pressure switch from proving draft, so the burners never light.
- Ignition & flame-sensing faults (codes 34 / 14). A dirty flame sensor or a weak hot-surface igniter lets the furnace light and then drop out, eventually locking out on a 14.
- AC won't cool — capacitor or contactor. A failed run capacitor (the outdoor fan hums but won't spin) or a pitted contactor is the most common summer no-cool on a Carrier condenser.
- Communicating-system comm faults. On Infinity and Evolution systems, the thermostat loses communication with the furnace or condenser — often wiring, a control board, or a mismatched component after a partial replacement.
- Blower motor / ECM failures, refrigerant leaks, and worn control boards round out the list.
Carrier error & fault codes
Carrier, Bryant, and Payne furnaces flash a two-digit status code on an LED behind the blower door: short flashes count the tens and long flashes count the ones (so three short + three long = 33). The codes are consistent across all three brands because they share control boards. A few you'll run into:
- Carrier Furnace Code 33 — Limit Circuit Fault — overheating from restricted airflow. The most common and most DIY-friendly.
- Carrier Furnace Code 31 — Pressure Switch — venting, inducer, or condensate.
- Code 34 / 14 — ignition & flame proving — flame not sensed after ignition; repeated failed tries lock the furnace out on a 14.
- Code 13 — limit lockout — where an ignored 33 ends up.
Meanings can vary slightly by control-board generation, so always confirm against the diagnostic label inside your furnace's blower compartment. On the cooling side, Infinity and Evolution systems display their own fault and comm errors right on the wall control.
What it costs in the Bay Area
Carrier repairs depend entirely on the part. On the furnace side, a flame sensor runs about $90–$250 and a hot-surface igniter $120–$350 — the common ignition fixes — while a blower motor is roughly $400–$700 and a control board $200–$600; most furnace repairs land in the $129–$800 range. On the AC side, a capacitor is about $120–$350 and a contactor $120–$320 (the cheap, common fixes), a refrigerant leak repair and recharge runs $180–$650, and a compressor is the high end at $900–$1,600, with most AC repairs in the $129–$1,200 range. We charge a diagnostic fee that's credited toward the repair when you approve the work, and you always get a firm, flat price before anything is installed.
Book Carrier, Bryant & Payne service
Triton services Carrier, Bryant, and Payne furnaces, AC, and heat pumps — plus every other major brand — across the East Bay, Tri-Valley, and Peninsula, including San Mateo, Pleasanton, Dublin, Redwood City, and San Ramon. Same-week and often same-day appointments, licensed techs, and upfront pricing.
Book online or call (888) 993-5699.
Related pages
- HVAC Repair in the SF Bay Area — our full heating & cooling hub
- Carrier Furnace Code 33 (Limit Circuit Fault) — the airflow code
- Carrier Furnace Code 31 (Pressure Switch) — the venting code
- Furnace Not Heating / No Heat — the symptom behind most furnace codes
- AC Not Cooling / Blowing Warm Air — the summer no-cool
- HVAC & AC Repair in San Mateo — Peninsula service area
Frequently asked questions
Are Carrier, Bryant, and Payne the same? Essentially, yes — they're all built by the same parent company on shared platforms and use the same control boards, diagnostic codes, and many of the same parts. Payne is the value line, Bryant the mid-tier, and Carrier the flagship, but a tech who services one can service all three. That's why we treat them as one brand family.
What does a flashing code on my Carrier furnace mean? The LED behind the blower door flashes a two-digit fault code — short flashes for the tens, long flashes for the ones. Common ones are 33 (limit/airflow), 31 (pressure switch/venting), and 34 (flame not proven). Code 33 is usually a dirty filter; if a code keeps returning after a filter change, it needs a tech.
Can you repair a Carrier Infinity or Bryant Evolution system? Yes. These are communicating, variable-speed systems where the thermostat talks to the equipment over a data bus, so they need more than basic line-voltage troubleshooting. We diagnose comm faults, control boards, and variable-speed components on Infinity and Evolution systems.
Why does my Carrier AC run but not cool? Most often it's a failed run capacitor (the outdoor fan hums but won't spin) or a pitted contactor — both common and inexpensive. It can also be low refrigerant from a leak or a dirty coil. Change the filter and confirm the thermostat is set to cool; if the air is still warm, have the capacitor and refrigerant charge checked.
How much does Carrier furnace or AC repair cost in the Bay Area? It depends on the part. A flame sensor is about $90–$250 and an igniter $120–$350; a blower motor runs $400–$700 and a furnace control board $200–$600. On the AC side a capacitor is $120–$350, a refrigerant leak repair and recharge $180–$650, and a compressor $900–$1,600. The diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair when you approve the work.
Do you service Carrier in my city? We cover the East Bay, Tri-Valley, and Peninsula — including San Mateo, Pleasanton, Dublin, Redwood City, and San Ramon — with same-week and often same-day appointments. Call (888) 993-5699 to book.