Q: I have a furnace that is 30 years old. I called a company to have the ducts and furnace cleaned. The service person did not turn the pilot light on and 2 days later I smelled gas. I called the company and they said they would come out but no one showed. So I called Puget power and light. A service man came and said I had a leak and red tagged it. I did not sign the tag. The second day I got a letter from the gas company stating that a gas leak was not found. It was very confusing to me so I called the gas company and the same thing happened. This time I signed it. The service man said it needed a new gas valve. I have not given up thinking that the reason I smelled gas was because the pilot light was off. And it does not need repair. Who can I talk to for an honest answer? And is there a reputable company that will make the repair? I am willing to pay a reasonable price and I do not want a new furnace. I am a senior. Should I call a consumer protection agency?

A: According to the Heating/Duct cleaning Service Professional I contacted, there would have been no reason to turn on the pilot light to clean your furnace or ducts. And now that your furnace has been tagged, you will need a licensed heating professional to check it out and sign the tag off before the power company will turn your gas back on. Getting a new gas valve for your 30-year-old furnace is a good idea anyway, because the new ones are far safer than the original type.

The best course would be for you to call about three different heating companies, explain your situation, and see what they tell you: they may very likely be able to give you a general estimate of how much they will charge to come take a look, install a new gas valve and sign off on the tag. You might want to ask the original company that did the cleaning to give you an estimate, but talking to a couple different companies is the best way to be sure of fair market prices, and then you can choose the one you prefer to hire.

To locate some reliable heating specialists, visit us again at http://www.servicemagic.com and join as a member (it's free!). We can help you locate the ideal service professional in your area to make the necessary repairs.

Good luck!
Kathy Maynard