When to replace your heating system
Trying to figure out if your furnace is still working well or if it needs to be replaced can be like trying to predict the twist in a movie or TV show for many homeowners. You begin reading into every little potential change and shift in your furnace — you feel warm, but did it take longer to kick on than usual? Has the furnace been running too long? Did it always make that noise? Did it always make that smell?
And while trying to solve the mystery, you’re racing against the big twist — for the furnace to suddenly shut down and never turn back on. A dramatic conclusion that you most definitely want to avoid! But those amateur sleuth skills can actually aid homeowners trying to pinpoint the health of the furnace before it commits a third-act betrayal and leaves you in the cold. Because determining if now is the right time to replace your heating system is largely about putting together the pieces and clues your furnace is sending out. It’s just about knowing which pieces and clues are most important — and which ones require a second-opinion from a professional.
How Frequently Does Your Furnace Need Repairs?
Regular maintenance is healthy, helpful, and necessary to keep a furnace running and to aid it in achieving peak performance. But at a certain point, continually repairing a furnace to keep it going becomes a larger financial hit compared to buying a new unit. As repairs become more frequent and more expensive, it’s important to sit down and budget out the difference in investing in a new unit versus trying to keep the old furnace going for another season. Often, the costs speak for themselves, and a replacement is the smarter decision in the long run.
How Old is Your Furnace?
If you’re already looking at a unit with a higher-than-average amount of repairs, it’s important to also consider the age of the unit. Older furnaces can be costly to keep around — both in time and money. A typical furnace has a lifespan of 15–20 years, but as those years go up, the unit will require more maintenance to continue running optimally. Parts for older furnace repairs also tend to be more expensive as some become outdated and more difficult to source, which adds an additional cost to repairs that you will need to consider.
Additionally, older furnaces will run less efficiently than newer furnaces. This is due to continual advancements and improvements being made in furnace design. For instance, newer furnaces can provide the same level of comfort for homeowners without drawing as much power. And the older the furnace becomes, the less efficient it will be.
Are there Cold Spots When the Heat is Running? Or More Dust in the Air?
Warm air should be reaching evenly throughout your home when the thermostat is set correctly and the furnace is running. Additionally, if there are clean or new furnace filters installed, there shouldn’t be too much dust or dander floating around or noticeably leaving the vents.
Cold spots in and around rooms are a cause for concern, and could be a sign that your heating systems needs to be replaced, as a furnace should be capable of maintaining a consistent temperature and atmosphere within every room. Additionally, what appears to be additional dust coming from your home’s registers could be soot or rust coming from inside the heating unit, which you’d rather not have spread further around your home. Both of these indicate a need for a professional inspection of your furnace to get to the root cause of the issue, but ultimately, it’s a good time to plan ahead and think about installing a new furnace.
As you start to notice more of these clues, each one adds up to the same conclusion — it’s time to look into a furnace or heating system replacement or upgrade. If you are interested in exploring the new furnace options available for your home, or if you have questions about your current furnace or whether you should upgrade now, reach out to the HVAC experts at Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating and Cooling. The knowledge experts at Duane Blanton will use their 30+ years of HVAC experience to provide answers, guidance, and help for all plumbing and HVAC needs that homeowners have. Give Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating and Cooling a call today, at (815) 781-2567, or consider scheduling online from your laptop!
Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, and Cooling is proud to be a Bryant Authorized Dealer, offering top-quality heating and cooling options to fit the specific needs of Duane Blanton customers. The quality, comfort, and efficiency of Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems’ products naturally aligns with Duane Blanton’s drive to provide an exceptional customer service experience. Ask a Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, and Cooling expert today about the advantages of upgrading to a new Bryant Heating & Cooling system for your home!
