Signs You Need A New Furnace
During the heating season, there is never a convenient time for a furnace to break down, especially considering the discomfort and hazards of leaving a home unheated.
There is no such thing as a furnace that never dies.
They typically last about 15-20 years. There is no way to know its expiration date in advance. All you can do is exercise caution as the furnace enters the final quarter of its life. Knowing its age may help put any performance problems in context. As the furnace is one of the biggest energy consumers in modern homes, its efficiency level directly affects your bottom line. If you are paying much more than last year and the rates have not risen, your furnace needs attention. Depending on circumstances, repair may be able to deliver an efficiency boost. Feeling cold indoors even though the heat is on provides perhaps the most obvious motivation for taking a close look at your furnace. Bring in a professional, especially if you notice significantly different temperatures in different rooms. Uneven heating may be the inevitable result of an increasingly outmoded technology. Your furnace could not be doing its job to remove airborne particles from the warmed air. First thing to do is check the furnace filter and clean or replace it if necessary. If it’s been years since you changed your filter, or if it’s never been changed, permanent damage may have been done to internal furnace components. Sometimes, standing next to your furnace can tell you a lot about its condition. Check for corrosion and cracks, and in the process listen for any unfamiliar sounds. While squealing and screeching are a clue that the blower may need adjustment, other types of noise like grinding and banging, indicate the need for either repair or full replacement. Also, pay attention to how the furnace room smells. When you start up the appliance for its first use of the season, you can expect a musty aroma, but if the smell lingers for more than a few days, schedule a service appointment right away. If the furnace cycles on and off frequently or if it runs all of the time, it’s a clear sign of the furnace not working as it should and it’s time to replace.