Our heating bill has doubled this winter, and I think it is time to schedule regular seasonal maintenance, but how often should a family in Minnesota really service their furnace?
Fan-out diagram
Seed → topic clusters → sub-queries, per model.
Badge and edge weight = share of passes that produced the query. Hover a query for its intent and routing format.
Query classes
Google's semantic query class for every sub-query: what kind of answer each search is after, simulated vs real.
Classes come from the query-classifier (a local Laya model). 35 queries are still being classified.
What the models actually searched
Each model answered the query with its own web search. These are the searches it ran, matched to the closest simulated query.
- HOME ENERGY GUIDE · mn.gov
- # HOME HEATING · mn.gov
- Improving Home Efficiency / Minnesota Department of Commerce · mn.gov
- Heating Tips · minnesotaenergyresources.com
- Heating system tune-up · mncee.org
- Furnace tune-up services · centerpointenergy.com
Semantic map
Every query placed by meaning (EmbeddingGemma 2, 256-d). Shaded regions are topics, nearby points are near-paraphrases, and a circle's size is how often the query came back.
Queries
| Query / type | Search | Intent | Query class | Routing format | Cluster | Freq ↓ | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
how often should you service your furnace REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to find the general industry standard for furnace maintenance frequency. | — | faq_page | recommended furnace service frequency | 2x of 3 | |
how often should you service a gas furnace in a cold climate REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Find the recommended frequency for furnace maintenance specifically suited for cold northern climates. | — | web_article | recommended furnace service frequency | 1x of 3 | |
why did my winter heating bill double suddenly IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Understand potential causes for a sudden 100 percent increase in a winter heating bill. | — | faq_page | causes of high heating bills | 1x of 3 | |
why did my heating bill double this winter IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Understand the common causes for sudden spikes in winter heating costs. | — | faq_page | causes of high heating bills | 1x of 3 | |
furnace maintenance checklist winter RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know what specific tasks are performed during a routine seasonal furnace service. | — | checklist | seasonal maintenance checklists and tim… | 1x of 3 | |
annual furnace tune up checklist ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | See a detailed breakdown of what a professional technician checks during a yearly maintenance visit. | — | checklist | seasonal maintenance checklists and tim… | 1x of 3 | |
furnace maintenance checklist for cold climates RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Obtain a specific list of maintenance tasks tailored for furnaces operating in harsh winter environments. | — | checklist | seasonal maintenance checklists and tim… | 1x of 3 | |
why did my heating bill double this month IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to identify potential causes for a sudden spike in home heating costs. | — | web_article | causes of high heating bills | 1x of 3 | |
repair vs replace furnace cost comparison COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Compare the financial pros and cons of fixing an inefficient old furnace versus buying a new one. | — | comparison_table | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
signs your furnace needs immediate service RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Identify warning signs that indicate a furnace requires professional attention right away. | — | web_article | signs of furnace trouble | 1x of 3 | |
gas furnace tune up cost vs replacement savings COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to compare the financial impact of regular tune-ups versus upgrading to a new heating system. | — | comparison_table | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
average cost of residential furnace tune up RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Find out how much HVAC companies typically charge for an annual seasonal service visit. | — | pricing_page | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
annual furnace tune up vs professional overhaul cost and frequency COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Compare the frequency, depth, and pricing of standard annual tune-ups versus major overhauls. | — | comparison_table | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
high efficiency furnace brands for cold climates ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants recommendations for specific furnace brands that perform well in severe winter environments. | — | buyers_guide | cold climate heating equipment | 1x of 3 | |
signs your furnace needs professional service immediately IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Identify warning signs that indicate immediate furnace trouble rather than waiting for routine maintenance. | — | web_article | signs of furnace trouble | 1x of 3 | |
average cost of residential HVAC seasonal maintenance plan ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Determine typical pricing for seasonal heating and cooling maintenance contracts. | — | pricing_page | hvac maintenance plans and agreements | 1x of 3 | |
how to prepare heating system for extreme cold weather PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants practical advice on safeguarding their heating equipment against sub-zero temperatures. | — | how_to_steps | winter energy saving tips | 1x of 3 | |
how to lower high heating bills in winter RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Discover practical energy-saving tips to reduce monthly heating costs during peak winter months. | — | how_to_steps | winter energy saving tips | 1x of 3 | |
how to lower heating bill in cold winter months PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Discover practical energy-saving tips to reduce high heating expenses during peak winter. | — | how_to_steps | winter energy saving tips | 1x of 3 | |
signs your furnace needs immediate repair RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to recognize warning signs of furnace failure before scheduling routine maintenance. | — | web_article | signs of furnace trouble | 1x of 3 | |
hvac maintenance plan vs one time service cost COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Evaluate whether signing up for an annual HVAC service contract saves more money than paying per visit. | — | comparison_table | hvac maintenance plans and agreements | 1x of 3 | |
does regular maintenance actually lower heating bills IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Find evidence or expert consensus on whether routine furnace service improves energy efficiency. | — | web_article | winter energy saving tips | 1x of 3 | |
average annual furnace maintenance cost REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know how much typical seasonal furnace tune-ups cost. | — | pricing_page | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
can skipping furnace maintenance cause high bills RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Learn the mechanical relationship between neglected furnace upkeep and increased energy consumption. | — | faq_page | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
best time of year to schedule furnace tune up RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Identify the optimal months to book HVAC service to avoid peak rates and long wait times. | — | faq_page | seasonal maintenance checklists and tim… | 1x of 3 | |
do dirty air filters double heating bills IMPLICIT | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know if a neglected filter could be the direct cause of their doubled heating bill. | — | forum/qna | causes of high heating bills | 1x of 3 | |
best furnace filter for cold winter weather ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Find out which MERV ratings and filter types work best for maintaining airflow and efficiency in freezing temperatures. | — | buyers_guide | cold climate heating equipment | 1x of 3 | |
gas furnace vs heat pump efficiency in freezing temperatures COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Compare heating efficiency and performance of different heating systems in extreme cold. | — | comparison_table | cold climate heating equipment | 1x of 3 | |
furnace filter MERV rating guide for winter ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to understand which air filter ratings are optimal for winter heating efficiency. | — | glossary/definition | cold climate heating equipment | 1x of 3 | |
how often should hvac filters be changed in winter REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Find the recommended frequency for replacing furnace filters during heavy winter usage. | — | web_article | recommended furnace service frequency | 1x of 3 | |
HVAC contractor maintenance agreement terms glossary ENTITY EXPANSION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Understand common terminology used in heating service contracts and warranties. | — | glossary/definition | hvac maintenance plans and agreements | 1x of 3 | |
repair vs replace old furnace financial calculator COMPARATIVE | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants a tool to calculate whether fixing an aging furnace is more cost-effective than buying a new one. | — | calculator/tool | maintenance and repair costs | 1x of 3 | |
hvac maintenance agreement benefits RELATED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | The user wants to know the advantages of signing up for a seasonal HVAC maintenance service plan. | — | web_article | hvac maintenance plans and agreements | 1x of 3 | |
diy furnace maintenance tips for homeowners PERSONALIZED | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Learn safe maintenance tasks a homeowner can perform themselves to keep the furnace running efficiently. | — | how_to_steps | seasonal maintenance checklists and tim… | 1x of 3 | |
how to troubleshoot minor furnace efficiency issues before calling a tech REFORMULATION | Google ↗ AI Mode ↗ | Find DIY troubleshooting steps to check furnace efficiency and resolve minor issues. | — | how_to_steps | signs of furnace trouble | 1x of 3 |
Passes
Does another pass still surface new queries? A flattening curve means the fan-out has stabilised.
| Model | Pass | Target | Generated | Seconds | Tokens (in / out) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gemini-3.5-flash-lite | 1 | 12 | 12 | — | 939 / 1,403 | |
| gemini-3.5-flash-lite | 2 | 12 | 12 | — | 939 / 1,458 | |
| gemini-3.5-flash-lite | 3 | 12 | 12 | — | 939 / 1,457 |