Many homeowners don’t even think about their furnaces during the warmer months of the years. (Although this is the best time to think to replace or repair it!) It’s a classic case of out of sight, out of mind. When we are not flipping on the thermostat to warm up the house, we tend to forget that our furnace may be reaching the end of its life. However, as soon as the temps begin to dip, we are often reminded that our furnace is not performing as well as it should.
While the ideal time to replace your furnace is anytime but winter, you may find that you have no choice. It’s always better to be without heat for a few hours while your furnace is being replaced than it is to be without it for days if it quits during a busy time of the year. Do you wonder if this is the year you need to replace your furnace? Look for the following signs:
It’s Old
Furnaces have a life of around 16 to 20 years. If yours is in that age range, you should probably put ‘getting a new furnace’ on your to-do list. Not only do older furnaces have more chance of quitting altogether, they are also less efficient and more prone to problems that could lead to dangerous carbon monoxide leaks. In the past 20 years, there have been many new innovations in energy efficiency and you’ll find that replacing your old furnace could actually save you money in the long run.
Your Energy Bills are Noticeably Higher
If you notice that your heating bills have taken a steep climb and it has nothing to do with how cold it is outside, you should definitely have an expert come take a look. A high energy bill could mean that your furnace is slowly shutting down and is running longer to compensate for the lack of heat it’s putting out. Not only will you end up spending more each month to heat your home, you’ll also run the risk of your inefficient furnace shutting down completely.
Your Repairman Has Been a Frequent Visitor
If you know your furnace repairman by his first name, it’s likely you’ve been seeing too much of him! Frequent repairs add up quickly and could also mean that your furnace is near the end of its life. Instead of pouring more money into repair, use it instead to upgrade to a newer, more efficient furnace.
If your furnace is reaching the end of its life, don’t wait until it finally quits to replace it. Be proactive by upgrading to a new, high-efficiency furnace before the sub-zero temps hit to keep your family warm and safe all winter long. If you’d like an estimate on a new furnace, please reach out to the experts at Carter’s. We’d love to help you out!