How Do I Know My Furnace Needs To Be Replaced?
Purchasing and installing a new home appliance is a big deal, which is why we want to help you make the best decision for your home. If you’ve started to notice that your furnace is faltering, you might be considering replacing the unit as a whole instead of repairing it. If that is where you are at, here is a list of things you could consider to help you make that decision:
Age of the Unit
One of the first factors you want to consider is how old your furnace currently is. On average, furnaces last anywhere between 15 and 20 years. Is your furnace nearing that age? If so, you likely want to consider getting ready to buy a new furnace. While the rest of the signs in this list can also point to simply a need for a repair, the age of your unit can help determine whether a repair will suffice or if a replacement would work better. In instances when your furnace is older, you might have the option to simply repair the unit, but in the long run, the most cost-effective solution would be to replace the unit in its entirety.
Spike in Electric Bill
As your furnace ages, it takes on normal wear and tear from the years of running. This wear and tear can lead to a furnace that no longer functions at peak efficiency. When your furnace is inefficient, it will start having to run longer and cycle more frequently to keep your home at your desired temperature. This will inevitably lead to an increase in your electric bill. While it might be hard to notice at first, eventually you might realize that your electric bill has crept up over the past weeks and months. You might also notice a drastic spike. If either of these are noticed, without a noticeable cause on your end, then your furnace might be the culprit.
Inconsistent Heating
Potentially the most noticeable of the signs, take inventory of how consistent your home’s temperature is. Are there spots or even full rooms in your home that aren’t warm? Is there no explanation available such as a wall of windows or a drafty exterior door nearby? Then it is likely that your furnace is no longer able to do the job it’s supposed to do. As furnaces go out, they tend to become less effective, leaving cold spots around your home. This, in turn, leads to the furnace having to work harder, wearing it down faster. This is a vicious cycle and can take a toll on your furnace. Again, if your furnace is older and you realize it is inconsistently heating your home, it might be best to go ahead and replace the unit as a whole.
These are just a few of the many signs you can be on the lookout for if you think that your furnace might be dying. Don’t want to make the decision alone? Give Hurlburt a call! While we can’t decide for you, we can give you everything you want to know to make sure you are making the best decision possible.
