When Is It Time To (Finally) Replace Your Furnace?

The furnace is an important installation for every household, especially during the colder months approaching the winter season. It’s essential to have a furnace that is working fully optimized during the cold weather to get your home the necessary heating for you and your family’s comfort. However, like all other appliances, the furnace is prone to damages due to wear and tear. As such, it is important to know when it’s time to replace your furnace.

A well-working furnace is ideal if you wish to maximize energy costs while keeping your house warm. The less optimized a furnace works, the lower its efficiency is, resulting in several problems and issues not just for your heating but also for energy bills and your overall safety. When a furnace starts to lessen its efficiency, it might be better for you to check replacement options.

Here are a few telltale signs that your current furnace should be replaced with a brand new model:

You’ve used the same furnace for more than 15 years (and counting).

According to Consumer Reports, a furnace has an average life expectancy of 18 years. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should keep your old furnace around until it finally reaches that age. There are several factors that can contribute to a furnace’s longevity, and these conditions can cause a furnace to start working less optimized at a much earlier age.

All appliances are subject to wear and tear, and the furnace is no exception. People tend to take furnace for granted because it’s not as visible as other devices like the television or the refrigerator, but in terms of usage, the furnace is surely going to be at the top of the list especially during the cold seasons. This high usage, coupled with maintenance conditions, is essential in determining how worn out your furnace is.

It’s ideal to regularly check your furnace for damages by scheduling annual maintenance. This way, you can quickly detect any issues with your furnace and repair them immediately to prevent long-term damages and prolong your furnace’s life.

You notice that your energy bills are suddenly going up.

Your furnace is one of the biggest energy consumers in your home, which means how efficient it performs has a direct impact on the energy it uses up. When your energy bill starts to show a higher amount than it normally does, the smart thing to do is check your major appliances for efficiency issues, and the furnace should be on your priority list.

Once you’ve checked your furnace and confirmed that its efficiency is wavering, you can consider buying a replacement. A new furnace will perform at its peak efficiency level, so the money you spend in buying it might save you more in the long-term instead of keeping your old furnace but paying for more energy consumption.

Your house doesn’t feel as warm as it used to be.

Heating up your home is the number one task of a furnace, so if you don’t feel that it’s producing enough warmth for your comfort levels, it’s a good indicator that it’s time to get a new one. However, there are also other possible reasons for losing household heat, such as having ventilation issues due to holes in the wall or roof, or air leaks due to unattended openings like windows and doors. It’s important to investigate first and make sure that the heating issue lies with the furnace before rushing off to buy a replacement unit.

There’s significantly more dust around the house than usual.

Part of the furnace’s job is to remove airborne particles as it warms the indoor air for your home. If you start to find significantly more dust around your house despite your regular cleaning efforts, you need to check the furnace immediately to see if the air filter is still in good condition.

The furnace’s air filter can easily get clogged because of dust and other dirt particles. When this happens, you can either clean it or get a new air filter altogether. The air filter should be replaced at least once every three months, so make sure to do that to prevent unnecessary dirt pileup that can lead to allergies and other health conditions. A dirty air filter can also bog down your furnace and cause long-term damages if left unreplaced.

A Final Word on When to Replace Your Furnace

There are several signs that can tell you when a furnace is working less efficiently, and the examples mentioned above are only a few of them. If you fail to detect these signs, your furnace will be at risk for further long-term damages and it will also cost you more in terms of repairs and energy costs.

Regularly checking your furnace is important to make sure that it stays in good condition, especially when the colder season is nearing and heating services are a necessity. If you need professional assistance in checking and maintaining your furnace prior to the winter, you can always contact All Year Sacramento at (916) 922-7796. All Year is the best HVAC service in the Sacramento area and can surely answer all your furnace-related concerns while providing high-quality services at the most competitive rates.