Ask yourself the following questions about your furnace and depending on the answers, it might be time to have yours replaced.
How old is your furnace?
The average life expectancy of a typical furnace today is between 16-20 years. If your furnace is in this range, or approaching it, you should begin thinking about your next furnace. Most people prefer to replace their furnace as a planned home improvement, rather than an emergency replacement when the furnace fails or falters. The typical lifespan of a warm air furnace varies based on its operating equipment, which is why you should have your system regularly checked by a trained technician who can assess its condition and make recommendations.
Are your energy bills going up?
Rising energy costs may not be the only reason for a high energy bill. Furnaces can lose efficiency as they age and may need to run longer to provide the same amount of heat, causing energy bills to go up. And just think, all of the money you pay your utility company could go towards a new, more energy-efficient and energy-saving furnace.
Have you had any furnace repairs in the past 2 years?
As your furnace ages, parts may start to break down rapidly. You may replace one part, just to replace another the next year. Soon, you could be spending hundreds of dollars just to keep an old furnace running. Most breakdowns occur in the last two years of a furnace’s life. And as your furnace ages, it may be harder and harder to source replacement parts.
Does your thermostat keep you comfortable?
Are some rooms in your home too hot while others are still chilly? This may indicate that your furnace is having trouble distributing air throughout your home.
How are you and your family feeling?
If your furnace develops a crack in the heat exchanger, dangerous carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home undetected. If you or your family are experiencing frequent headaches, burning feeling in your nose or eyes, nausea, disorientation, or flu-like symptoms, it could be caused by carbon monoxide. Immediately open some windows to air out your house and call a service technician.
Is your furnace making weird noises?
Have you heard any banging, popping, rattling, or squealing noises from your furnace? Is the furnace blower running excessively, or is the blower turning on and off, or blowing cold air? These could all be signs that your furnace may need to be replaced.
Is your house dry or dusty?
Old furnaces can lack the ability to moisturize or clean the air in your home, making your house feel stuffy or stale. Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies to dust, mold, pollen, or dander? Or does is someone suffering from a dry nose, throat, or skin? You may also notice frequent dust accumulation, static shocks, droopy plants, furniture cracking, or musical instruments not staying in tune. These observations could mean that your old furnace is not providing the level of comfort you and your family are looking for. Call us today and one of our technicians can have your furnace and ventilation assessed, to see if it is time for you to purchase a new furnace.
If you have a natural gas furnace, is the burner flame yellow?
Any heating system runs the risk of carbon monoxide emissions, however older chimney-vented oil-fired furnaces don’t necessarily run the same risk as natural gas or propane furnaces. With regular annual maintenance and cleaning by a qualified service technician, these beasts can run safely and reliably for decades. If you do own a natural gas or propane furnace, a yellow or flicking flame may be a sign that carbon monoxide is being created by your furnace. Other possible signs of carbon monoxide emissions include:
- Streaks of soot around furnace
- Absence of upward draft in your chimney
- Excess moisture on windows, walls, or other cold surfaces
- Excessive rusting on flue pipes, other pipe connections, or appliance jacks
- Small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent, or flue pipe
- Rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible outside
Always be mindful and monitor your furnace for the signs above, and most importantly, have a carbon monoxide meter on each floor of your home.
Don’t panic if you think you need a new furnace. It may end up saving you money!
No one can dispute that a new furnace is a substantial cost associated with home ownership. But is also needs to be seen as a long-term investment. Furnaces today are much more energy-efficient than those installed as recently as 20 years ago. Even though the short-term expense is large, over the long-term a new furnace will more than likely save you money by lowering annual energy costs.
We’ve got the furnaces to help you save and stay comfortable all year round! Having our team install a new home furnace or heating system will improve your home’s value and keep your family comfortable. Enjoy fast installation and professional training on your system, and qualified customers can take advantage of some great financing options and special offers.
Think you need a new furnace? Give our team a call today.