Furnaces
Need a New Furnace?
Tell Tale Signs of When to Replace Your Furnace
That time of year is quickly settling in; the shorter days and longer, colder nights. The winter season is quickly approaching, and the sampling of the cold, frigid temperatures are beginning to rear its head. Your home’s furnace is booting up after months of non-use, as you adjust to the weather your furnace is also. The ability of a furnace to perform at peak performance is a key issue in monthly energy costs, safety for you and your family, and the calm, cozy, inviting atmosphere of your home in the long days of winter. Home owners should know when and if their furnaces need to be repaired or replaced to maximize this major appliance.
The age of your furnace will help to determine the next best step. Often the home you purchased and are living in came with the furnace. Home inspectors and inspections will provide you with the estimated age of the furnace, along with make, brand, and model; referencing an inspection report, the user’s manual, and informational labels on the unit are your best resource. A general rule is if your furnace is older than 15 to 20 years, a new furnace may soon be in your future. Older furnaces do not run as efficiently. This will be evidenced by increased utility and energy bills and more repairs, more often.
Do you notice that different rooms are different temperatures; different areas of the home or warmer or colder? This could mean that your furnace is not distributing heat evenly, properly, or efficiently. Your ducts may be outdated or needing to be cleaned.
Are your rooms dirtier than normal; are the vents in your rooms dustier, rustier, and sooty? These may all be signs that your furnace isn’t working properly. Not only is it showing the bad health of your furnace, this can cause increased health risks and problems for your family. More carbon dioxide may be eliminated from the unit or increased dryness within the home, leading to humidity problems can alter the overall health of your family.
The sounds coming from your furnace are another key indicator to the condition of the furnace. If the unit is louder and/or cycling more often, making popping, rattling, or humming noises, the furnace should be examined to determine the cause and what can be done to fix this issue.
Calling an HVAC professional may help to determine the cost of repairs, if any updating should be done (such as changing the thermostat, changing or repairing the filter, or cleaning the duct system), or if a new unit would be the most economical. Be sure to seek out the expertise of more than one professional, comparing and shopping around. A good tip to remember: if the cost of a new furnace is 50% or less than the repairs, buy new.
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