5 Warning Signs You May Need to Replace a Furnace

Winter is coming quickly, and you want to make sure you and your family are kept warm by your furnace. It's important to take note of these warning signs that you may need to replace your furnace in the upcoming months:

"1.) Your furnace is more than 15 years old."

"If your furnace is past its 15-year mark and beginning to have maintenance issues, there is a very likely chance it will need to be replaced. It may be working, but it is likely not operating at maximum efficiency and your utility bills are probably at all time highs as a result."

"Furnaces are like cars; the older they are, the more maintenance they need, usually incurring the most breakdowns in the last two years of their lives. If your furnace is roughly 15 to 20 years or older and you have a repair costing more than 15 percent of a new furnace, you should go ahead and replace it (because it is more likely to break down again soon)."

"Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is, no matter the age of the furnace, if the cost to repair is 50 percent or more of the cost of a new furnace, you should replace it."

"If your furnace is operating with little to no maintenance issues but you’re noticing a higher utility rate and you’d like to get your bills down, there may be some lower cost solutions for you. Some alternative options may be updating your thermostat to a programmable one, cleaning or updating your duct system, purchasing an electric fireplace or portable heater, or just adding some extra blankets around the house. Call one of our HVAC experts to help you determine which option is best for you."

"Although 15 years is a general rule, your furnace may still have some time left! Most reliable furnaces last between 20 and 30 years, but you can find the recommended lifespan of your furnace in the owner’s manual or by calling the manufacturer with the unit’s model number."

"2.) Your energy bills and equipment repairs are steadily increasing."

"An older furnace is bound to work harder to provide the levels of heating it did when it was new. This means higher energy bills and more frequent repairs. A slight increase in both is OK for an older furnace. But once you begin seeing significant bill increases and your furnace repairman knows you by name, it may be time to look into getting a new furnace. The amount of money you will save in the long run from a more efficient unit will be worth the short-term investment."

"3.) The rooms throughout your home are different temperatures."

"An inefficient and old furnace can result in some rooms being colder or warmer than others. This is likely the result of an old furnace and outdated duct system losing its ability to distribute heat evenly throughout the house. If you’re experiencing some of these issues, feel free to contact one of our HVAC experts at 855-932-4822 to see what your next steps should be."

"4.) Your home has soot around the registers."

"An older furnace may begin spewing out dust, dirt, or rust particles, which can be not only irritating for those who aim to keep a clean house, but dangerous to everyone’s health. When you spy soot or rust around the furnace or registers, this is a sign your furnace has too much CO2. It can also cause excessive dryness, affecting the walls, wood flooring, furniture, and plants in your house. If you notice plants starting to wilt, or family members are experiencing dry eyes and itchy throats, or headaches, it may be time to replace a furnace."

"5.) Your furnace is extra noisy."

"Furnaces tend to make some noise when they turn on and off, but if those noises start to get progressively louder, it may be time to replace your unit. These sounds may come in the form of popping, banging, humming, or screeching. This could be a telltale sign that you may need to replace a furnace or some parts within the furnace. The reason for some of these sounds could be:"

• "Rattling: Unsecured ductwork, loose screws or sheet metal can be the cause of this sound. It may also mean the lower motor is not properly balanced."
• "Popping: This sound can happen when parts within your furnace warm and cool in response to temperature changes within your system."
• "Humming: Your fan motor may produce electrical humming sounds, but the fan should never be loud or disruptive. If it is, your inducer motor or blower fan motor could be starting to fail."
• "Screeching or Squealing: These noises are a sign there is an overall issue with your blower motor or inducer motor. Possible issues could be a loose bearing, deteriorating belt, or an issue with the pulley that holds the belt."

Read the full article here.