Furnace Replacement can be a tricky decision. Oftentimes, home owners have a hard time figuring out if their furnace just needs a repair or if their furnace needs to be replaced. Furnace replacement is a hefty expense. However, when your furnace needs to be replaced, it just may cost you more to keep it than to replace it. But, how do you know when it’s time? What are the signs that your furnace needs to be replaced? Let’s discuss some common signs so you can know and share with others when it’s a good time to replace your furnace.
Common Signs You Need To Replace
1) Your Furnace Is 10-15 Years Or Older
Age is by far the most common sign. In our experience, we find that we are most frequently replacing furnaces between 10 and 15 years of age. We live in Minnesota and use our furnaces more frequently than the mid and lower states. It’s cold here! Just like your vehicle, furnaces accumulate wear and tear with each use. As furnaces age, repairs are needed more and more.
2) Your Frequently Repairing It
Yes, furnaces need repairs and tune-ups from time to time. That is normal. However, if your furnace needs frequent repairs, the problem may be a worn out system.
3) Your Energy Bills Are Rising
Energy bills can be an indicator. Of course, fuel and energy charges vary from year to year. However, if you compare last year’s bills to this year’s bills and see an extreme difference in prices, it could be because your furnace’s efficiency has decreased and it is taking more energy to heat your home to a comfortable temperature.
4) You Have Uneven Temperatures In Your Home
If you are noticing warm and cool areas in your home, your furnaces is not working properly. Uneven temperatures can indicate real problems with your furnace that should be addressed sooner rather than later. The efficiently percentage of your furnaces has gone down if it is constantly kicking on and off.
5) It’s Constantly Turning On And Off
When your furnace is turning on and off more frequently than normal, it is a sign that your furnace is working harder and harder to try to keep your home warm. The more it turns on and off, the more it costs you in energy and money. Worn out systems have to try harder and work more often to keep up with the thermostat.
6) It’s Super Noisy
If your furnaces is making noises that would make you jump in the night, definitely get it checked out. Some noise is typical, but if you notice that your furnace is suddenly much noisier than usual, something is up. Noises to be aware of include noisy hums, rattles, or buzzes.
7) You See It Shooting Out Particles
If you notice any kind of particles of dust, rust, dirt, and/or soot coming out of your furnace. It’s time to take action. Especially when rust or soot come out, this can be a dangerous situation. Excessive debris such as soot and rust a pose a fire hazard in your home. It also increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
8) You Have A Yellow Flame
Your flame should be mostly blue. If it is mostly yellow, this can indicate carbon monoxide. This poisonous gas can be circulated through your home via the furnace. Carbon monoxide can fatally poison humans and pets. You can install a carbon monoxide detector in your furnace room and check the pilot light frequently to avoid too much damage. If you have a yellow flame, contact us immediately.
The Advantages Of Replacing Your Furnace
Safety: A new furnace increases the safety of your home. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning decreases. The fire hazard of your previous worn out system also decreases.
Savings: Upgrading your furnace will decrease your utility costs, make your home more comfortable, and be a lot safer.
Comfort: When you install a new furnace, you can say goodbye to uneven temperatures in your home, and hello to more comfortable living environment!
Considering Replacing Your Furnace?
We can help! Get a Free Quote from one of our Heating Experts today. We will come out to your home to measure and evaluate your current heating system. Then we will provide you with an up front price in writing, explain all your options and let you know about any possible discounts, sales promotions, tax credits and rebate opportunities. There are many options for new furnaces today and we can help you determine exactly which one will be the best for you and your budget.