When Heating is the right route
No heat, intermittent heat, unusual cycling, new equipment noise, uneven heating, an aging furnace, or a deliberate replacement question all belong here. A website symptom list is only orientation; the actual system still needs evaluation.
Repair before replacement is a decision, not a slogan
Age matters, but so do condition, failure type, prior repair history, safety findings, comfort, system configuration, and the cost/benefit of keeping the equipment in service. Kestrel’s fictional process documents the finding and the available paths.
What an evaluation considers
System operation, controls, airflow, visible condition, accessible components, and the symptom reported by the homeowner. Work outside HVAC scope—such as unrelated electrical/plumbing corrections—is separated rather than buried.
Pricing context
The diagnostic/service visit begins at $119. Parts and repair are quoted after diagnosis. Replacement is not published as a generic “installed from” number because home, equipment, duct, electrical, permit, and scope conditions can materially change it.
When Heat Pumps becomes the better page
If the decision is not simply “replace the furnace” but “should the next system use a heat pump or dual-fuel strategy?”, move to Heat Pumps. That page handles the broader system transition.