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HOME HEATING COSTS · GUIDE 1014 Your furnace stops heating on a freezing morning. An HVAC technician gives you a repair estimate, and suddenly you're facing a difficult decision. Should you pay to fix the old furnace—or put that money toward a new one? The answer depends on more than the repair price. Your furnace's age, condition, safety, efficiency, and the cost of a properly installed replacement all matter. Quick Answer: Should You Repair or Replace Your Furnace? Repair is often worth considering when the furnace is relatively young, the problem is isolated, the repair is affordable, and the system has a good maintenance history. Replacement deserves serious consideration when the furnace is more than 15 years old, major repairs are becoming frequent, or the repair estimate is a substantial share of a comparable new installation. A serious combustion or heat exchanger safety problem changes the decision: safety must be resolved before the f...

HOME HVAC MAINTENANCE · GUIDE 1013 You pull out your furnace filter and wonder: Is it time for a new one, or can it last another month? The packaging says 90 days. Your neighbor changes hers every 30. And your HVAC technician mentioned that pets can make a difference. So which schedule should you follow? Quick Answer: How Often Should You Change a Furnace Filter? For many standard residential disposable furnace filters, 60–90 days is a common manufacturer-recommended replacement interval . ENERGY STAR recommends checking the filter monthly and changing a typical filter when dirty, at least every three months. However, filter type, thickness, manufacturer instructions, system runtime, pets, dust, and household conditions can change the appropriate schedule. Some deeper media filters have longer manufacturer-rated service intervals. Check these three things first: Filter label: What replacement interval does the manufacturer specify? Filter condition: ...

WINTER FURNACE TROUBLESHOOTING · GUIDE 1012 Your furnace turns on, and suddenly you hear a loud bang from the basement. Or maybe it's a high-pitched squeal, a metallic rattle, or a grinding sound that gets louder every time the heat runs. Is this normal winter operation—or a warning that something needs attention? Quick Answer: Why Is My Furnace Making a Loud Noise? A loud furnace noise can come from expanding ductwork, loose panels, restricted airflow, blower motor problems, or—in a fuel-burning furnace—ignition and combustion issues. Some brief clicking and gentle airflow sounds are normal. However, a sudden explosive bang, persistent grinding, loud screeching, or unusual vibration should not be ignored. Check these three things first: What does it sound like? Bang, rattle, whistle, squeal, hum, or grind? When does it happen? At startup, while the blower runs, or during shutdown? Are there danger signs? Gas odor, smoke, a CO alarm, loss of h...