Smoothly operating furnaces and air conditioners are fairly quiet, and the noise they do make is usually consistent and unobtrusive. So when you hear noises that are loud, grating or out of the ordinary, it could be a sign that something has gone wrong.

If you notice your air conditioner turning on and off frequently, this could be a sign of a major problem, and you should address it right away. This behavior is known as short cycling. It wears out the air conditioner's compressor, which can be very expensive to repair or replace. If you think your air conditioner is short cycling,...

Avoid an unpleasant surprise by taking a moment to understand the warning signs that your air conditioner may be failing and the steps you can take to prevent a breakdown before it happens.

Before the cooling season arrives, the following steps should be taken to ensure your air conditioner is clean and in good working order and will not make your allergy problems worse.

Want to stay cool this summer and avoid a costly service call? Here's a tip: change your furnace filter!