"Robert Gammon" wrote in message
...

Both of you have then never used modern gas cooktop or range

tick,tick,tick...then whoosh

Not true -- use one every time we cook on the stove. My furnace's sound is
much different -- like I said in the post it's a loud click that seems to be
coming from the gas valve (as some of the clicks correspond with the pilot
or burners coming on, etc). Perhaps the OP's sound is different than mine,
if he really means a 'tick'.

Gas furnaces need ANNUAL inspections to determine when the heat exchanger
fails.

Probably great advice, but I don't personally heed it. Spending $100-$150
to have someone vacuum my furnace (I did it once) seems a bit much I do
agree that it's a good idea every few years. I just wish the person who
would be telling me it's time to replace the unit wouldn't be the same
person who has a vested interest in me purchasing one.

We do have multiple CO alarms in the house. Worst-case scenareo -- the unit
goes in the middle of a cold snap in February and I'll be without heat for a
few days and have to make a split-second purchasing decision. But we have
several backup heaters we can use and get buy if this is the case...

-Tim