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Repairs & Troubleshooting

Symptoms, noises and smells: how to read a problem and when to repair or replace.

Strange smells from the furnace: which ones matter

Dust burning off is normal; gas, oil, plastic or exhaust smells are not. Here is how to tell them apart.

Repairs & Troubleshooting

One system, two thermostats: getting zones to agree

How zoning and a single thermostat fight each other, and how to set them up so rooms stop competing.

Repairs & Troubleshooting

Noises your HVAC system makes and what they usually mean

Banging, squealing, rattling and clicking, mapped to the parts that usually produce them.

Repairs & Troubleshooting

Repair or replace? A straight way to decide

Age, repair cost, efficiency and how long you plan to stay — the four things that settle the question.

Safety note. Gas smells, repeated furnace shutdowns, burning smells and suspected carbon monoxide are call-out situations, not do-it-yourself jobs. Leave the building and contact a licensed technician or your utility. Refrigerant handling and gas pipework are licensed trade work.