Furnace replacement is something a homeowner may have to consider as the cold season starts to arrive! As the cold seasons begin looming on the horizon, your furnace will soon be under the spotlight. Eventually, your temperature will drop and your furnace-use will skyrocket while you keep your home and your water warm enough to survive. Unfortunately, just like every other major appliance you love in your house, your furnace doesn't get any younger. Whether this thought has occurred to you already or not, something could go wrong with your furnace that warrants a repair call or a replacement furnace altogether.
Pay close attention to the following four furnace issues.
Typically, the average lifespan of a furnace is 15-20 years, but higher quality furnaces that have been well maintained may extend far beyond that. This first issue may seem obvious, but we've found that not many people can answer how old their furnace truly is. Rule of thumb dictates that if your furnace is old enough to acquire its own driver's license and go to prom with another beautiful furnace, it is probably time for a replacement.
If the age is getting up there, usually after year 10, it is most likely reasonable to assume that you may be in store for a furnace repair pretty soon, especially if no maintenance work has been done previously. Parts get old and rust/corrosion takes its toll. Also, it's important to dig out your furnace warranty information and maintenance history. Some furnace warranties extend as long as 20 years, so check your warranty, whatever service you need may be covered.
This may come as a shock, but your furnace does not double as a percussion instrument. The only noise it should be making is the low grumble it exudes when it is cycling, similar to a reluctant family member who forgot to do a chore. Bangs, scrapes, booms, screeches, thumps, or any other array of comic book onomatopoeia should be treated as a sign that a repair or assessment call needs to be made as quickly as possible. Noises coming from your furnace can be attributed to any number of issues but if it is particularly loud and disrupting when turning on it may be the sign of a serious safety issue that should be addressed straightaway.
Is your monthly heating bill becoming an increasing burden? If so, your furnace may be to blame. In the past furnaces were far less efficient than today's best models. Many furnaces common in homes have efficiency ratings (the amount of fuel that is turned into heat) that are in the ~70 percentiles. The most efficient options today have ratings as high as 98.5%.
An increased heating bill without increased use is almost certainly indicative of a furnace replacement. You will want to act on this realization as quickly as possible, or turn your furnace off altogether, for every second this furnace is running you are paying for resources that you are not necessarily in need of. The main culprit of this problem can usually be traced to the ductwork within the furnace, but that's not to say it couldn't be a plethora of other reasons. A repair should be able to take care of the issue, but in some less frequent cases you may end up having to start shopping for a new furnace depending on how severe the issue.
If you've concluded that a new furnace is necessary, it's not all bad news and may be a long-term win. You can ensure your home is equipped with a safe, quiet, warrantied, and efficient furnace replacement that results in lower monthly heating costs, no unexpected repair bills, higher home resale value, and greater peace of mind.
Call SmartHouse Heating & Cooling today for more information about furnace replacement!