Furnace guides
Furnace guides for Pittsburgh homeowners
What to check when the heat stops, what to do about a gas smell or a red tag, and what repairs and replacements involve in Pittsburgh-area houses. Written for gas forced-air furnaces.
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Start here
Smell gas or hear a CO alarm?
Leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside first. Then read what to do about a gas smell or CO alarm.
No heat right now?
Run the furnace not working checklist, and if the house is still cold, call for no heat repair at (321) 478-0693.
Planning ahead?
Read what furnace repair costs in Pittsburgh and the fall furnace checklist, or book a furnace tune-up.
All furnace guides
No Heat
Furnace Not Working? 8 Things to Check Before You Call
Before you book a no-heat call, eight quick checks can rule out the simple causes: thermostat, furnace switch, breaker, filter, blower door, gas supply, the status light and blocked PVC vents.
Safety
Gas Smell or a CO Alarm Near the Furnace: What to Do First in Pittsburgh
A gas smell or a sounding carbon monoxide alarm is not a furnace repair problem first. Here is what to do in the first minutes, who to call, and how to get the furnace checked afterward.
Costs
How Much Does Furnace Repair Cost in Pittsburgh?
Published Pittsburgh-area ranges put most furnace repairs in the low hundreds, with motors and boards costing more. Here is what those figures cover, what moves the price and how to read a quote.
Replacement
Furnace Replacement Cost in Pittsburgh: 80% vs 95% Furnaces and Chimney Liners
Published Pittsburgh-area estimates for a new gas furnace run from about $3,500 to $7,500. The venting choice, chimney condition, sizing, permits and ductwork explain most of the spread.
Safety
The Gas Company Red-Tagged My Furnace: What Happens Next
A red tag means the furnace was found unsafe and the gas to it was shut off. Here is who can tag a furnace, the usual reasons, what not to do and how to get the heat back.
Maintenance
Fall Furnace Checklist for Pittsburgh Homes
Seven furnace jobs a Pittsburgh homeowner can safely handle in fall, from the filter to a test run, plus what a professional tune-up checks that you should not attempt yourself.
How these furnace guides are written
Every guide here is about gas forced-air furnaces in Pittsburgh-area houses: brick homes with chimney-vented 80% furnaces, post-war ranches on original ductwork, and newer high-efficiency furnaces with PVC vents and condensate drains. Each one opens with a short, direct answer, then explains what a technician actually tests and why, so you can follow what happens at your furnace instead of taking a part name on faith.
Safety comes first in every guide. Anything involving a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm starts with leaving the house and calling 911 or the gas utility from outside, and none of the homeowner checks ask you to open the burner compartment or work on gas lines or wiring.
Sources, prices and updates
Claims about carbon monoxide, filters, efficiency ratings and contractor rules link to their sources, such as the CDC, the EPA, ENERGY STAR and the Pennsylvania Attorney General, in a Sources list at the end of each guide. Where a guide mentions prices, they are ranges published by other Pittsburgh-area companies and cost guides, labelled as such; they are not our price list, and the technician gives you a firm price before any work starts. Each guide shows the date it was published and the date it was last updated.
Looking for a service rather than an article? Start with no heat repair, 24/7 emergency furnace repair or the full list of furnace services.
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