# Furnace not working: Need fast recommendation for heating service in No. Virginia **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732 "2011-12-19T12:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/1 "2011-12-19T12:32:25Z")
My furnace is unable to hold the temperature set by the thermostat. I need fast recommendations for heating/air service guys at reasonable prices. I’ve used United Air Temp in the past, but I always felt like I was being hustled. If I don’t find an alternative, though, I’ll be calling them within the next few hours. ---
**Author:** ![MareIt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@MareIt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MareIt)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/2 "2011-12-19T12:50:02Z")
I have used both ME Flow and Michael & sons and have no complaints about either one. ---
**Author:** ![SeaCanary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SeaCanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaCanary)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/3 "2011-12-19T13:06:37Z")
I wouldn’t – repeat; would not – go with B & B Heating and Air Conditioning. ETA: Have you considered using Angie’s List to get a good recommendation? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/4 "2011-12-19T14:06:41Z")
I’m not a member. I wonder if there’s someone who could look it up? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/5 "2011-12-19T15:05:04Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > My furnace is unable to hold the temperature set by the thermostat. I need fast recommendations for heating/air service guys at reasonable prices. > > I’ve used United Air Temp in the past, but I always felt like I was being hustled. If I don’t find an alternative, though, I’ll be calling them within the next few hours. I used these guys when my furnace expired in 07: > **[Richards Air Conditioning Company, Inc.](https://www.richardsac.com/)** > > Richards Air Conditioning Company, Inc. is a locally owned and operated AC Repair and AC Installation company. Visit our site to schedule service in Reston, VA, Potomac, MD and surrounding areas! As I recall they were on site the next day installing a new unit, $1800 (townhouse size - in Reston). Good luck ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/6 "2011-12-19T15:07:34Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/7 "2011-12-19T15:16:02Z")
What is your furnace doing? If you turn it on and it blows for a few minutes and then cuts off and then repeats the whole procedure a few minutes later, it may call for an easy do-it-yourself remedy. It could be your furnace’s **flame sensor** which is easy to locate, remove and clean with fine sandpaper or steel wool. For ours, this works every time. [This link](http://www.asi-heating-airconditioning.com/A_Simple_Fix_Gas_Furnace.html) provides the basics. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/8 "2011-12-19T15:28:53Z")
I just made an appointment with Air Control based on their Yelp reviews. Minlokwat, yes, that’s pretty much what it’s doing. It’s cutting off before it reaches the set temperature. Usually the temperature is hovering around 8-10 degrees too low, but one morning it was about 15 degrees below set temperature. But then every once it a while it heats up all the way and it fools me into thinking it’s okay. And also about half the time, it seems to be blowing cold air, although I can see and hear the flame lighting up occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/9 "2011-12-19T16:11:32Z")
**Ascenray** , really you might want to take a shot at cleaning off the flame sensor yourself. I am not much of a handy man but I can tackle this one. I can’t link a how-to video from work but it’s a simple procedure. There is like one screw to remove, you extract the flame sensor which looks something like a syringe or a rather thin pencil. Give a couple of swipes with either sandpaper or a steel wool pad and replace. The operation takes about five minutes and your furnace may be back in business with no need for an HVAC tech to come out and hit you with a whopping repair bill. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/10 "2011-12-19T17:10:59Z")
I’ll take a look at your link. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/11 "2011-12-19T18:32:43Z")
If you’re not comfortable with messing about inside your furnace, I know someone who would be. PM sent. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furnace-not-working-need-fast-recommendation-for-heating-service-in-no-virginia/606732/12 "2011-12-19T20:07:25Z")
It looks like you folks were right and it was the flame sensor. I’m glad I got a guy to do it for me this time. I don’t like mucking about with important mechanical things. Good news, though, I set up my Apple Airport! Thanks a lot for everyone’s advice. As a data point, I’m fairly satisfied with Fred from Air Control.