5 Warning Signs You Need to Replace Your Furnace
Sadly, summer has come and gone. As temps begin to fall, responsible homeowners should begin preparing their HVAC systems for the long, upcoming winter. In the next few weeks, heating and cooling companies will begin their busy season as residents begin relying on their furnace for in-home comfort.
We strongly suggest starting up your furnace before you actually need to rely on it in order to ensure it is functioning properly and ready to work. Upon initial startup, pay attention to the system. Below are items to watch for that might be telltale signs of an upcoming replacement.
Increasing Repair Costs
Typically, older heating units need more energy to do their work. Generally, this means they have to work harder - which require more natural gas or electricity to do their jobs, and are more frequent to breakdowns. Minor increases in repair and energy costs are acceptable, but when bills become more frequent and costly it is probably time to consider upgrading to a newer more efficient model. It is very possible that the savings in energy bills over the unit's lifetime will pay for the new heating system.
Age
Trends show that furnaces older than 15 years are prone to maintenance issues and breakdowns. It is very likely that the unit is no longer working to its best efficiency and your energy bills are higher than need be. Furnaces usually cost the most in the last 2 years of their lives. Generally, a furnace older than 15 years is costing you over 15% in energy consumption than a new model. Even if your old furnace is functioning well, ask us about ways to decrease energy consumption with your current system.
Temperature Variation
If you find that some rooms are warmer than others, that is another sign that your furnace or duct system needs to be inspected. The ability to evenly distribute warm air is just another sign your furnace is no longer keeping up to the workload required.
Noisy
With age, you may begin to notice some noises you never heard before. Loud startups and shut downs, popping, banging, humming, squealing or grinding are all signs that parts are wearing out in the furnace. Depending on the issue, we can advise you if the problem is worth fixing or if you should just replace the unit.
Dirty Registers
Another sign that older furnaces show is dust, dirt or rust particles around the registers. Not only is this annoying for cleanups, but it may be a health hazard. Usually these signs signify your heating unit is giving off too much CO2. It can also effect indoor humidity levels which may be damaging to your home. Big humidity changes are another sign you should replace your old furnace.
With the advancements in HVAC technology, it is getting less expensive to operate your heating and cooling systems. Wouldn't it be nice to invest those energy savings back into new hardware in order to provide you the cleanest, safest indoor air quality possible? Older heating systems don't have the control options available that new ones do which means they can't keep you as comfortable and generally cost you more money to operate.
If you are considering a furnace upgrade but are not sure if it's worth it, give us a call and we can talk you through the decision. We can provide you the information needed to make a smart, educated decision on your next HVAC investment.