Seven safe homeowner checks to run when your furnace will not start, plus the gas, breaker and carbon monoxide warning signs that mean stop and call.

What AC repairs really cost in Los Angeles, from a $150 capacitor swap to a compressor, and how to spot an inflated quote.

Typical new central AC cost in Los Angeles, what drives the price, permits, rebates and financing, and how to compare quotes.

A big quote or a sudden replacement recommendation deserves a second look. Here is when to get an HVAC second opinion in Los Angeles and what to ask for.

Refrigerant is sealed in and never used up, so a recharge every year means a leak. Here is how leaks are found and when a repair beats a replacement.

A burning smell on the first heater run is usually dust. Here is how to tell it from electrical, gas, musty and smoky smells, and when to call 911.

What an HVAC diagnostic fee pays for, what a real diagnosis includes, national price ranges, and the questions that protect you before you book.

Runtime from April to October, a condenser sitting in full sun, and ductwork in a 130 degree attic. Why equipment ages faster here.

Multiply the age of the unit by the repair quote. If the answer clears five thousand dollars, you are paying to fix the wrong problem.

A licence number, a written quote, and who actually answers the phone at nine at night. The checks that separate a contractor from a call centre.

Most of the breakdowns we get called out for were avoidable. Here is what to check each season, and what to leave to a technician.

Worth real money when your ducts are genuinely dirty. Worth nothing when they are not. Here is how to tell which one you have.

Almost every expensive failure gives warning first. These are the five warnings homeowners tend to live with until August.