Having a reliable furnace is a must for any home, but what happens when your furnace no longer works as well as it should? A furnace is a major part of any home HVAC system, and many homeowners aren’t keen on spending the thousands of dollars it costs to buy and install a replacement. A furnace can be repaired, and it will last a long time if it is well maintained, but there will come a time when it’s actually better for your home and your budget to purchase an upgrade. Here are just some signs that you will need a new furnace.
You Have an Old Furnace
One of the biggest indicators that you need to upgrade your furnaces is the age of your current heating system. A furnace will last about 15 years as long as it is well maintained; some particularly high-quality furnaces can last as long as 20 years. An older furnace may not necessarily have anything wrong with it, but any unit that is between 10 and 15 years of age is getting to the end of its lifespan and should be replaced before it starts to break down.
Your Energy Bills are Getting Higher
Furnaces tend to get less efficient as they get older, which means they have to work harder to heat a home like they once did. This almost always leads to higher energy bills. Over time, these higher bills can cost so much money that it will be cheaper in the long run to simply have a new furnace installed. If you notice that you’re paying more money for your heating bills every month yet your home doesn’t feel any warmer, it’s probably time to shop for a new furnace.
Your Furnace Needs Frequent Repairs
Furnaces do need regular maintenance if they are to stay in good working order, but a furnace that requires near constant repairs should definitely be replaced. If your repair bill is at least 50 percent of the cost of your current furnace, you should start looking for a replacement. As expensive as high-quality furnaces are, they will still be much cheaper in the long run than an old furnace that constantly needs to be fixed.
Some Rooms in Your House are Warmer or Colder than Others
Although there will always be some temperature variation in your house, a good furnace should minimize this. If you have your heat on and there are still rooms that feel too cold, your heating system isn’t working as well as it should. At the very least, this is an indicator that your air ducts need to be cleaned. If that doesn’t take care of the problem, you may need a furnace upgrade.
Your Furnace is Too Noisy
Ideally, an HVAC system should be practically silent. You may hear a soft click as the furnace switches on and maybe the sound of air blowing through a vent if you listen very closely, but there shouldn’t be anything more than that. Loud clicking and rattling is a good indicator that your furnace is reaching the end of its lifespan. If you want to make sure that your furnace works properly and that you aren’t disturbed in the middle of the night by annoying noises, contact a furnace installation professional to find out what you can do to upgrade to a newer heating system.
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