Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace

Here are 5 key signs that it’s time to replace your furnace

Regular maintenance can help to extend the lifespan of your furnace. It helps you identify any potential problems that could interfere with the performance of your unit. However, no matter how well you care for your furnace, as time goes on, the unit will eventually reach its lifespan and need a replacement. You might be experiencing increased energy bills and more frequent calls to the HVAC technician. If your furnace is old and inefficient, it might just be “that time” to replace it. We are your local choice to replace your furnace. Call today!

Reasons to replace your furnace

1. Age of the Furnace
Much like anything else in life, with age comes plenty of wear and tear. If your furnace is reaching the 15 to 20 year mark, it might be time to look at a replacement, particularly if the unit has been causing you problems lately with various issues. Manufacturers typically assign a general lifespan for their furnace models, which are expected to last no more than 20 years. This is a general guide for consumers to use to determine roughly when to replace the system. Furthermore, agencies like Energy Star recommend replacing a furnace when it reaches 10 years old in order to keep the unit as energy efficient as possible.

2. Increased Utility Bill Costs
If you begin noticing a gradual increase in your energy bills, it might be a sign that your furnace is using more energy than necessary to run. High energy bills are often a clear signal that there is a possible problem with the furnace, even if it hasn’t reached its total forecasted lifespan. The new furnace is only going to get older and less efficient as time goes on, so it may be the right time to replace it.

Other reasons for a new furnace

3. Efficiency Rating
You might not be aware of the efficiency rating of your furnace unless you take the time to actually read the owner’s manual. Back in 1992, minimum efficiency ratings were set at 78%, so if your furnace is older than this, it’s most likely time for a replacement. Furnace units of today are much more energy efficient, offering as much as 90% to 98.5% efficiency, which translates into a lot less energy wasted and a lot more money saved on utility bills.

4. Repairs are Mounting
If you find that you are increasingly having to call a technician to come and fix a problem here and there, it might be time to start shopping around for a new furnace. You’ll have to consider the cost-benefit of continuing to have to pay for repairs versus buying a completely new furnace. Most HVAC experts agree that further repairs aren’t worth it if it’s going to cost close to 50% of the current value of the unit.

5. Lack of Maintenance
The lifespan set by the manufacturer is based on the assumption that the owner will take good care of the new furnace and perform regular maintenance on it. However, if you have neglected to take the time to regularly maintain the unit, chances are the lifespan of the furnace will be a lot less than what the manufacturer stipulates, which will warrant a replacement sooner rather than later.

HVAC Services

Contact D McKeon today!  They will discuss replacing your furnace if necessary!