Get a furnace running until the repair visit with Gemini and a video
- Posted
- by andrewthornton (Hacker News)
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- Method:
- How we verify
Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.
Context: The prompt is quoted from the commenter's follow-up reply on the same Hacker News thread.
Outcome
With no repair appointment available for 2 days over the 2025 holidays, a Hacker News commenter filmed the furnace trying to start and gave the videos to Gemini. The commenter says it diagnosed the issue immediately and had them spin a small exhaust fan while the furnace tried to fire; it came on, and repeating that kept it working until the HVAC service arrived.
Agent
Prompt Original prompt
Exact prompt as published in the source.
I have a furnace that will not heat when I reset the power to this unit. It makes some noise within its fan system for about three or four minutes and then I get an error light. Can you help me figure out what may be wrong here?
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Optional stronger version
Our rewrite with extra checks. The poster didn't test it.
Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so. Goal: Understand why my heating won't come on and what's safe for me to check while I wait for a technician. What I'll share as we go: - Furnace make/model and age (photo of the label) - What happens at start-up: sounds, how long, error lights or codes - A short video of the start-up attempt - When my repair appointment is Safety first: don't have me open or touch the gas valve, burner or flame area, or the electrical panel. If I smell gas or burning, tell me to leave the house and call the gas utility or a licensed technician. Rules: - Read the error code or light pattern from the label or manual first and tell me what it means. - Only suggest checks a homeowner can do safely: thermostat settings, filter, power switch, condensate drain, vent blockages. - For anything inside the burner or gas section, tell me to wait for the technician. - Write down what to tell the technician so the visit is quicker. - Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify. - If you smell gas, see scorching, or the error points to the flame sensor, gas valve or heat exchanger, stop and tell me to call the gas utility or a technician now. Output: Likely causes in order, the safe checks with results, and a short note for the technician. You'll know it worked when: I know what's probably wrong, I've done only safe checks, and the technician gets a clear summary. Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.
Source
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48417845
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