Should I Replace My Furnace?

Replacing your furnace is always a major step as a homeowner. A new furnace isn’t cheap, but staying with an outdated one will quickly cost you more in accumulated home and repair expenses. You don’t want to replace it too soon or too late, and it can be hard to identify just the right time.
Luckily, we’re here to help. Here are a few of the signs that it’s time to put your old furnace out to pasture.

Check the Age of Your Furnace

First things first, check the specifications on your furnace to determine its age. The modern furnace should live for at least 18 years and can go as long as 30. If your furnace is older than 20, you’re in the zone where any of the below issues might mean a replacement.

Check Your Bills

Are your expenses going up? Has your heating bill been steadily on the rise? Even if your furnace hasn’t broken down, older ones will become increasingly less efficient, driving up your heating costs. Rising bills are a sign that you’re probably going to have a major breakage in the next few months.
A good trick is to estimate how much your rising heating bill will cost you over the next year against the costs of a full replacement. Take into account the upward trend for a worst-case scenario, and calculate that against the expense of a full replacement.

Frequent Repairs

Next, it’s time to evaluate your repair costs. Have you had contractors coming in more and more frequently for major and minor repairs? Those can add up. And for all repairs that come up, you should measure them against the cost of a new furnace. If any repair is more than half the cost of a new furnace, you should opt to replace it.

Telltale Signs

Be aware of how heat is distributed throughout your home. A failing furnace will have trouble circulating heat effectively, causing hot and cold spots. While this can be attributed to other things like damaged ductwork, it is one of the early signs.
Lookout for soot, dust, and rust around the home. This indicates a buildup of CO2 and can cause health issues and poor sanitation.
The most important signs come from the furnace itself. Listen to your furnace closely; if it’s been noisier than usual, you might have a big issue. Rattling, popping, humming, and screeching are all indicative of major malfunctions within the unit.
None of these individual factors necessarily mean your furnace is on the way out. They should be taken altogether, and you should absolutely consult with a professional before making a decision. Contact us today for a consultation.

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