Buying a new furnace can be overwhelming because of the expense. This is why we here at Service 1st Pros work with you to get you the best deal on a new furnace with our certified professionals installing it ourselves. There common problems older furnaces face that indicate it’s time for a new one. Here are six signs your home’s furnace is on its way out.
1. Age
The average lifespan of a furnace is 10 years to 15 years, anything older than that and you’re pretty lucky. If your furnace exceeds that lifespan, it’s likely time for a new one. You have probably already noticed some of the other signs we’re going to list below, but once you’ve gotten 15 years out of your home’s furnace, plan for the need to replace it soon.
2. High Energy Bills
A clear sign your home’s furnace is not operating as efficiently as it can be is a marked increase in your utility bills. Even if your utility company charges you higher rates during the winter, there should not be a drastic difference between your heating bills from last year and your heating bills this year. If there is yet you are running your furnace the same, it is not running efficiently.
3. Cold House
Another sign that you need a new furnace is your home is cold even though you have the furnace on. It could be that the difference in temperatures is not that noticeable, or your furnace could be blowing cold air out of the vents. Either way, even with lukewarm air, if there is a noticeable difference in how comfortable your heater keeps your home, it needs to be replaced.
4. Too Much Dust
If you are faithful about changing your furnace filter and you still end up with a ton of dust in your home, the heater is likely not cleansing the air effectively before it pumps it through your ventilation system. This is a sign you need a new furnace, but it can also be a sign that you’re overdue for a ventilation system cleaning, including the air ducts.
5. You Smell Your Furnace
Let us start off by saying right away that smelling anything when you turn on your furnace is dangerous. You’ll smell a musty smell the first few times it runs at the beginning of the cold-weather season, but you shouldn’t smell anything after that. Gas, hot, or musty smells constantly indicate your furnace is in serious trouble. Shut it off and cut the gas main into your home, too.
6. Cycling Problems
Your furnace and thermostat work in tandem to turn your furnace on and off when it needs it. If your furnace isn’t turning on when your home is too cold, or if it’s turning on too often and making your home too hot, it’s having cycling problems and this is a sign that it needs to be replaced. If the problem isn’t in your furnace, it could be your thermostat, and we can replace that, too.
If you are having heating problems this winter, including dealing with an old furnace, give us a call here at Service 1st Pros in Auburn, GA.
