It’s easy to take your furnace for granted — until it shuts down on a frigid winter night. To avoid plunging your family into the brutal cold, routine inspections and maintenance are necessary. Unfortunately, though, no furnace lasts forever. That’s why a furnace replacement is crucial whenever this appliance stops working correctly. To be more specific, here are five signs you could be due for a furnace replacement soon.
Energy Expenses Are Going Up
If your utility costs are rising, several factors could be responsible. However, in many cases, a furnace is the prime suspect.
That’s especially true if your energy bills indicate extra electrical kilowatt-hours or cubic gas feet.
You Keep Calling Furnace Replacement Pros
Have furnace repair professionals made multiple trips to your home recently? Of course, it’s never a good sign when furnaces malfunction repeatedly.
Indeed, imagine it’s the dead of winter. Your furnace needs yet another new part. However, your repair pro tells you that a particular item is not currently available. Thus, you could be facing several bitterly cold days and nights.
Unusual Smells and Sounds
Maybe your furnace has been making odd noises lately. Examples include:
• Banging.
• Scraping.
• Humming or whirring.
• Screeching.
• Popping.
• Rumbling.
Or perhaps you’ve noticed a lingering odor near your furnace. For instance, it might smell:
• Musty.
• Smoky.
• Metallic.
• Oily.
• Like rotten eggs.
If you’re dealing with any of these furnace sounds or smells, have an expert check it out as soon as possible.
Inconsistent Heating
When your furnace is running, are some rooms in your home warmer than others? Or does your home feel alternately warm and cool?
Uneven heating is frequently a symptom of a dying furnace. Similarly, if yours runs constantly or goes through its cycle more often than it used to, a furnace replacement very well may be in order.
Times for Furnace Replacement
Most furnaces wear out after 15 or 20 years of service. Therefore, even if yours still works, a furnace replacement is a wise investment after a couple of decades, if not sooner. Otherwise, this machine could expire without warning.
Maybe you’re not sure how old your furnace is because your home’s previous owners installed it. In that case, you could do a little investigating.
For example, you could call the manufacturer and read the serial number to the sales representative who answers. That person might give you numerous details about that product.
As a final note, it makes sense to take care of a furnace replacement in the spring, summer, or fall. That way, you won’t have to worry about this appliance when the weather gets colder.
As a bonus, your new furnace might consume less energy, lowering your monthly utility costs. Best of all, your furnace replacement will assure you and your family of comfort and contentment once those temperatures start to drop.
