How You Know When It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace
As the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas start to cool down, you might find your furnace isn’t what it used to be. Homeowners have a lot of prep work for cold weather, and it can be hard to tell if you need a new system or just a tune-up.The heating and cooling experts at Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing,
Heating & Air are here to help you know when you need a patch, and when it’s time for a replacement.
The Furnace Broke Down, Again
In the last couple of years of their life, furnaces start showing their age. Your normally quiet heating system is now banging and squealing, when it’s working at all. Before you spend a fortune on repairs, consider that it might be time to purchase a new furnace . If your furnace has developed a history of repairs in the last year or two, or if your repairs are more than half the cost of a new system, it’s probably time to get a replacement.
The Thermostat Isn’t Working
Are your temperature controls suddenly ignoring you? Is one room just not heating up like the rest of the house? If your thermostat settings aren’t keeping the temperature steady, take a look at your furnace. As your equipment ages and loses efficiency, it doesn’t reach rooms like it used to. It’s time to look for a new furnace that will be able to effectively distribute the air in your home.
Nothing Is Changing, but the Heating Bills Just Keep Going Up
If the weather and workload are about the same as the previous year’s, but your heating bill just keeps rising, it means your heater has become less efficient. This happens with age and it’s a good indicator that it’s time to get a new one. When you’re looking at a new furnace for this reason, it’s important to consider more than the cost of the new equipment. Take a look at Energy.gov for more information, including how much you could save on heating with a new system.
You’re Feeling a Little Flu-ish
Old furnaces may lack the ability to clean and moisturize the air as they should, which can leave your family with a dry throat or airborne allergies. Even more serious, a cracked furnace (which sometimes happens with age) leaks carbon monoxide into your home. General symptoms your family might experience with carbon monoxide in your home include frequent, unexplained headaches, dizziness, or general flu-like symptoms.
If you suspect your heating system is making you sick, call a technician right away.
Unfortunately, even the best furnace doesn’t last forever. Putting off buying a new heating system can cost you more in utility bills and, sometimes, even put your family in danger.