There are a few signs that your furnace isn’t working properly, and many of them can be fixed with a little elbow grease. Professional furnace repair, on the other hand, is the quickest and safest approach to fixing your furnace.
You must know when to replace your furnace before the cost of repairs exceeds the cost of a new purchase or it becomes unsafe. An energy-efficient and safe heating system is required for a comfortable and healthy home environment. One that heats the house without consuming a lot of energy and without putting the interior air quality at risk.
How do you identify when it’s time to replace your furnace?
You shouldn’t have to worry about replacing your oil or natural gas furnace just yet if it’s 12 years old or younger and has been properly maintained. Instead, invest some time and money into improving the energy efficiency of other areas of your home and ensuring that your furnace is properly maintained on a regular basis to guarantee that it lasts longer.
When you may need to replace your furnace, look for these warning signs:
- Carbon Monoxide is Emitted by Your Furnace:
If you suspect your furnace is emitting carbon monoxide, get out of the house right away. Call the fire department after you’ve evacuated and wait for their instructions. After that, you might consider contacting a local professional to install a new furnace.
- Your Furnace Is Old:
When considering whether to replace or repair a furnace, 15 years is a decent cutoff point. If your furnace is older than that, instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on furnace maintenance, it’s probably time to replace it.
- The Noises from Your Furnace are Consistently Loud and Violent:
Noises like popping, slamming, screeching, rattling, and squealing aren’t just annoying; they’re also a warning that your device is overheating, which causes metal to expand and grind against internal components.
- Repairs might cost up to 30% or more of what replacements would cost:
You may need to cut your losses and just go with a replacement at some point. Certain repairs (especially those that are older than 10 to 15 years) aren’t worth the money (unless, of course, buying a new furnace is out of your budget right now).
- Your furnace isn’t evenly heating or cooling your home:
Uneven heating and cooling is one of the most aggravating consequences of a malfunctioning furnace. Some rooms may be hot, while others may be cold.
- Your energy bills have skyrocketed:
Heating and cooling bills can rise by tens of dollars or even hundreds of dollars if your furnace is old or inefficient. This expense may be justified for a season or two, particularly if your device is still relatively new.
On the other hand, there are some circumstances in which furnace repairing is preferable to replacing it entirely.
- You’re about to put your house up for sale:
Are you considering selling your home? In terms of hidden costs, it may be more cost-effective to just preserve your furnace if it is still functional. Instead of buying a new furnace, investing a few hundred dollars into your HVAC system as an interim solution—hopefully, one that extends its life by two or three years—could save you thousands.
- Your energy bills are increasing:
The cost of your energy bill may not always justify or necessitate a furnace replacement. Make sure to read your maintenance manual and follow the instructions, such as changing the filter on a regular basis. This is one of the easiest and most effective furnace care recommendations you can use (for all home appliances, really).
- Your Thermostat Is Broken:
Your home’s inability to heat or cool could be due to a malfunctioning thermostat. It’s quite common, and if it’s indeed broken or the battery is dead, there’s probably nothing wrong with the furnace itself.
- Too Much Noise Is a Ductwork Issue, Not the Furnace:
The HVAC system in your home is made up of your furnace, heat exchange system, vents and ductwork. Banging, screeching and other loud noises can be caused by loose or damaged ducts rather than your furnace.
