Let’s go through a couple steps to weed out the obvious things first. Have you checked the air filter? If it’s dirty, be sure to change it out. Did you make sure your thermostat is set to the correct setting? Heat/on? Also, do you need to change the battery out? Lastly, consider a quick glance at your circuit breaker box. See if the switch was tripped accidentally.

Step 1. Check the thermostat. Is it set to the right setting? Is it on “heat” and turned on?
Step 2. Did you check the furnace switch? Make certain it’s on the “on” position.
Step 3. Did your furnace’s circuit breaker trip?
Step 4. Check the furnace filter. Could it be clogged? If it is dirty, replace it.
Step 5. Check the furnace’s front panel. Is it securely shut?
Step 6. Check the gas valve. Be certain that the gas valve is set to the “on” position.
Step 7. Are the air ducts blocked? Be sure to check them.
Step 8. Still not working right? It’s time to call a professional.

This will depend on the type of furnace you have. When we’re talking about a natural gas furnace, the lifespan tends to be about 15-20 years when it’s serviced on a regular basis. When it’s an oil furnace, you might get a little bit more out of it. The lifespan of an oil furnace could be 15-25 years. Now, that includes routine maintenance, because a regularly maintained furnace has a much longer lifespan.

The easiest way to figure this out is by using a special rule of numbers. First, consider the age of your system. You should also consider the cost of repair and frequency of repairs. Use the $5000 rule which says to multiply the age by the cost of repair per year and if that is less than $5000, you’ll then repair the unit, rather than replace the unit. For example, if your furnace is 12 years old, and the repair will cost $500, multiply 12X500=6000, which is greater than 5000. This time, we’d say replace your furnace.

This depends on what’s wrong with your furnace and could range from $100 to $1200. The average repair bill is around $300. In most cases, homeowners spend around $170 to $500. What you end up paying is a combination of the type of furnace you have, whether the furnace is still under warranty, what replacement parts it’s going to need, and how long will the repairs take to finish.

When it comes to servicing your furnace, we recommend you do it at least once a year. Our recommendation is to do it in the fall before the cold weather arrives. Furnace manufacturers all recommend annual inspections and maintenance. It’s important to keep good records, because many of them require proof that you’ve been doing regular upkeep for warranty claims. A clean, furnace that’s been maintained will save you money on utility costs, and it will also help your furnace last longer, too.