Your furnace is an important part of your home’s comfort—especially during those cold winter months in Indiana. It’s important to be prepared and understand when your furnace might be at the end of its life to avoid waking up cold when the temperature drops inside.
Here are 7 signs you need a new furnace.
1. Old Age and Frequent Repairs
Have you repaired your furnace in the last couple of years? According to Consumers Report, furnaces typically last an average of 15 to 20 years. Beyond that, it may be time for a new one.
Just like with fixing anything, there comes a point where the cost to repair starts to outweigh the cost of replacement. Take a look at how old your furnace is and the last repairs that were done. If you’ve had more than two furnace repairs in the last couple of years, it’s probably time for a replacement.
2. Higher Utility Bill
Another sign that your furnace might need replacing is if you notice a steady increase in your home utility bills. Over time, internal parts start to wear down and your furnace becomes less efficient, especially if they haven’t been properly maintained.
This requires your furnace to use more energy to properly heat your home, causing your electric or gas bill to go up. A new furnace is sure to be more energy efficient.
3. Making Strange Noises
Have you ever noticed your furnace making any strange rattling, popping or banging noises? No furnace is silent, but loud and persistent noises can indicate a serious problem with your furnace. Older furnaces especially make these strange noises at the end of their life.
Pay attention to the sounds you hear. Squealing or whistling noises might indicate a belt or fan issue, while banging or groaning can result from broken or loose internal components.
4. Discolored Pilot Light
Any furnace flame color that is not blue can indicate a problem with your furnace such as incomplete combustion or leaking gas.
If your pilot light is burning yellow, or any other color besides blue, turn off your furnace and contact your HVAC contractor (like us) as soon as possible.
5. Inconsistent Heating
One of the most obvious signs that your furnace might need to be replaced is if the unit just isn’t doing its job like it used to anymore.
If your furnace is producing little to no heat, regardless of the thermostat setting, or you are constantly adjusting the thermostat to stay comfortable, your furnace is no longer distributing heat properly and should be replaced.
6. Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless toxic gas that is produced whenever fuel is burned and can have fatal consequences if you are exposed to it. Symptoms or signs of carbon monoxide exposure include frequent headaches, burning feeling in nose or eyes, nausea, disorientation, and flu-like symptoms.
Every furnace should be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector which should alert you to the presence of toxic gases. If your detector goes off, turn off the furnace, open your windows, and contact your HVAC contractor immediately.
Signs you can look out for include streaks of soot around the furnace, an upward draft in the chimney, extra moisture found on windows, walls, or other cold surfaces, and rusting on flue pipes or other connections.
7. Poor Air Quality in Your Home
Your furnace has a direct impact on the quality of air in your home. An older furnace that needs replacing may move dirt, bacteria, and other particles around your home with the heated air.
Poor air quality can have an impact on the health of you and your family as you may notice more frequent coughs, colds, or other respiratory ailments. With more dust in your air, if anyone in your home has allergies, they can experience symptoms such as itchiness, watery eyes, and headaches.
Your Local, Certified HVAC Professionals
At Supreme, the comfort of our customers always comes first. When it comes time to replace your furnace, our certified HVAC technicians will help you to make the best and most informed choice for the comfort of your home.
However, if you’re not ready to replace your furnace or need it to be fixed right away, our team is also available for emergency repair services whenever you need it, or for regularly scheduled maintenance.
Contact us to schedule your furnace replacement or repair!
