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A customer tells a technician that his six month old furnace stops heating before the residence is warm. This happens only on very cold nights. The technician lights the furnace and tries to adjust the gas valve, but the flames do not change. He suspects:

  1. Clogged burner

  2. Defective gas valve regulator

  3. Improper thermostat setting

  4. Vent blockage

The correct answer is: Clogged burner

A clogged burner is the most likely diagnosis in this scenario. A burner that is partially or completely clogged will not allow enough fuel to pass through, causing the furnace to stop heating. While a defective gas valve regulator or vent blockage are also potential issues, they would likely cause the furnace to consistently malfunction instead of only on very cold nights. Improper thermostat settings may also cause heating issues, but it is unlikely to be the cause in this specific scenario as the technician attempted to adjust the gas valve without success. Therefore, option A is the most probable answer.