If you own your own home, it will be up to you to look after your furnace and ensure it remains in good condition throughout the winter. If you can’t recognize a furnace that’s failing, you may end up experiencing multiple problems during the colder months. This guide will help you recognize when it’s time to replace your heating system with a newer model.

Your Furnace is Older

If you don’t know how old your furnace is, you should have an HVAC technician evaluate it to determine its overall health. In general, a furnace that’s 10 to 15 years old will need to be replaced in the near future. If your furnace is reaching that age, it would be a wise move to begin saving for a new system.
While replacing a unit only because it is 15 years old or older can be an unwise financial move, you should just prepare for the eventuality. Having a plan for financing a new system will help you in the event that your furnace does leave you in a mid-winter pinch.

You’re Paying More to Heat Your Home

As a furnace gets older, it will become weaker and require more energy to perform the same job. As a result, your energy bills will be higher in the winter even though you’re trying to heat the same amount of living space.
In some instances, inhibited efficiency may be the fault of a specific malfunction, and an HVAC repair technician can resolve that problem. However, if you find that your bills rise back up or you see frequent fluctuations in your energy consumption, it may be time to contact your contractor to request new furnace installation services.

You’re Making Frequent Repair

Even if you don’t have an older system, one sign that you’ll need to replace it is a frequent need for mechanical repairs. When a furnace is continuously breaking down, many people assume it’s cheaper to make the repairs rather than to replace the unit. In fact, the opposite is usually true. You’ll spend less on the purchase and installation of your furnace than you would spend on the parts and labor of repeatedly repairing your furnace.
If it seems like you’re paying less because the repairs are spread out through the several months of winter, but when you add everything up, you’ll be surprised to see how much you’re really spending.

You Observe Unusual Smells and Sounds

At the start of every season, your HVAC technician should check out your furnace and heating system to ensure it’s running properly. This will involve changing the air filter and checking the heat pump. Additionally, you should make sure objects, such as magazines and newspapers, aren’t stacked close to vents.
You should also be changing the air filters once a month to keep the system running efficiently [source]. If you’re following these preventative maintenance tips and you still notice odd smells, such as the smell of electrical burning, or hear loud noises coming from your furnace, you should call your technician immediately.
Odd smells and sounds may indicate a need for repairs, or you may need an entirely new unit. Your HVAC technician can advise you on the best course of action after looking over your heating system.
Even after you have a new furnace installed, it’s important to take care of it and have your HVAC technician check it out periodically. Preventative maintenance will help you ensure it will continue to work efficiently for as long as possible. Proper care will save you on your monthly heating costs in addition to sparing you the necessary repairs you could otherwise encounter.