Furnaces
Short cycling, an odd smell, or a furnace older than the kids.
How long furnaces last, what the common failures look like, and when a repair stops making sense. We name the part and the price, never the gas-side work.
How long does a furnace last?
Lifespan by type, the signs a furnace is near the end, the repair-vs-replace rule of thumb, and what a new one costs (dated). Gas smell or CO alarm: leave and call.
The questions we answer about furnaces
- 01
New furnace
What a new furnace costs installed by size and efficiency, and what a fair quote lists. Dated sources.
- 02
Furnace tune up
What a tune-up includes, what it costs, whether it is worth it, and the upsell to watch for.
- 03
Furnace not turning on
Thermostat, breaker, switch, filter, door switch: the safe checks to look at and when it is a call. No gas-side work.
- 04
Furnace blowing cold air
The usual causes (thermostat set to ON, dirty filter, flame sensor, ignition) with the honest call for each. No gas-side work.
- 05
Furnace flame sensor
What the flame sensor does, the 'lights then shuts off' sign, and the part and service-call price. A gas appliance: we name the part, a pro touches it.
- 06
Furnace ignitor
What the hot-surface ignitor is, the clicking-no-flame sign, and the part and service price.
- 07
Heat exchanger furnace
What the heat exchanger does and why a crack is a carbon monoxide risk: get a CO alarm, shut it down, call.
- 08
Electric furnace
How an electric furnace differs from gas and a heat pump, running cost, and the price.
- 09
Furnace humidifier
Bypass vs fan-powered vs steam, who needs one, and installed price.