I have a Carrier gas furnace. Each winter when it gets cold enough for the furnace, I move the thermostat to heat, raise the indicator to 75 or 80, then wait, sometimes two or three days before the furnace comes on. It has always come on, but the wait is two to three days. After it once cycles on, it runs for the rest of the winter till I shut it off for the summer. What can I do to get it to come on the first time it's needed?

You may want to call a service tech to give your furnace a complete check to inspect the burners, igniter, condition of the heat exchanger, operation of safety devices, proper venting, wiring connections, gas leaks, filter and motor operation. This can be done in less then one hour and cost you a service charge of $50 to $100 , A small investment for your peace of mind, Good luck, Mike