Essex County, Massachusetts
Heating and AC repair in Salem, MA
Call and describe the problem, whether the furnace will not light, the heat pump is iced over or the air conditioner is blowing warm air, and you will be connected with an independent HVAC contractor serving Salem.
Your call is connected to an independent HVAC contractor, subject to availability in your area. HVAC Nation may receive compensation when your call is connected with a participating provider. Providers are independent businesses.
Salem at a glance
Heating and cooling climate
NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the MARBLEHEAD, MA station show about 6,377 heating degree days and 479 cooling degree days in a typical year, with about 108 nights at or below freezing and 9 days reaching 90°F or more. Heating demand is far larger than cooling demand here, so the furnace, boiler or heat pump carries most of the load and a breakdown in a cold snap is the most pressing kind of call.
How homes in Salem are heated
According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 55% of occupied homes in Salem heat mainly with utility gas, 25% with electricity and 17% with fuel oil or kerosene. Gas-fired furnaces and boilers are the most common setup, which means igniters, flame sensors, gas valves and venting come up often on heating calls. Oil heat is still used in about 17% of homes, usually with a boiler or oil furnace.
Housing age and HVAC systems
The median year built for housing in Salem is 1938, and about 76% of its 21,492 housing units were built before 1980. Many older homes here were built around hot-water or steam boilers and radiators, and some have had forced-air systems and central air added later, which can mean older ductwork and mixed equipment.
Services most relevant in Salem
- Furnace Repair (73% of homes heat with gas, propane or oil)
- Boiler Repair (17% of homes use oil heat)
- AC Repair (479 cooling degree days a year)
- AC Replacement (median home built in 1938, many systems on their second or third AC)
- HVAC Repair (one call when you are not sure which part failed)
Owners, landlords and tenants
About 50% of occupied homes in Salem are owner-occupied and 50% are rented. Homeowners, landlords and property managers can call to be connected; tenants should contact their landlord or property manager about heating or cooling problems first.
Nearby places
Salem is in Essex County. Places within about 30 miles include Boston (13 mi), Cambridge (14 mi), Lowell (24 mi), Brockton (30 mi) and Lynn (4 mi).
Other Massachusetts locations
Peabody (4 mi), Revere (7 mi), Malden (9 mi), Chelsea (10 mi), Somerville (13 mi), Waltham (19 mi), Haverhill (22 mi), Attleboro (44 mi)
Questions
Is HVAC Nation an HVAC company in Salem?
No. HVAC Nation is a referral service. Calls from Salem are connected to an independent HVAC contractor, subject to availability in Essex County.
How do most homes in Salem heat?
Census survey data shows about 55% of homes heat mainly with utility gas, 25% with electricity, 1% with propane and 17% with fuel oil.
How cold and hot does it get around Salem?
NOAA normals for the MARBLEHEAD, MA station average about 108 nights a year at or below 32°F and 9 days at 90°F or above.
Is a permit needed to replace a furnace or air conditioner in Salem?
Many cities and counties require mechanical or electrical permits for equipment replacement. Check with the local building department for Salem or Essex County, and ask the contractor.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Leave the home right away without using switches or phones inside, then call the gas utility emergency line or 911 from outside.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (tables B25040 house heating fuel, B25034, B25035, B25003); 2024 Gazetteer; NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (heating and cooling degree days, base 65°F).