One of the questions we hear a lot from our customers is: How do I know it’s time for a new furnace? Unfortunately, there’s no easy, textbook answer and it varies from homeowner to homeowner. That’s because there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration.
However, there are some major signs that you probably need either furnace replacement or furnace repair in Salt Lake City. One of these is the age of your furnace. Furnaces have lifespans of 10-15 years so if your furnace falls within this range, it’s considered an “aging” furnace. Because aging furnaces tend to have a lot of problems near the end of their service lives, keep reading to learn the furnace red flags to watch out for.
Furnace Age
As we mentioned, a furnace’s age is the biggest factor in determining how long it’ll last. Furnaces that are nearing the end of their usefulness will begin to deteriorate rapidly. It might break down altogether or it could suddenly experience a huge drop in its efficiency.
For an aging furnace, when a major repair is needed, you’ll need to decide if you repair or replace it. The rule of thumb we tell our customers to follow is when the cost of an estimated repair is equal to or more than half the cost of a replacement, you should invest in a new furnace. Why throw good money away on an aging furnace that’s due to be replaced soon anyway?
Safety Concerns
If you have an outdated gas furnace, there are potential safety hazards involved. Although they are rare, gas leaks are more common in old furnaces that lack the safety features that new furnaces possess. And over time, the carbon monoxide sensors in a furnace can fail.
One way that a gas leak could occur in an old furnace is when there are cracks in the heat exchanger. Cracks can develop through wear and tear on the heat exchanger’s metal chambers as they expand and contract when heating your home. Signs to watch out for that indicate a cracked heat exchanger include the smell of rotten eggs or sulfur, the carbon monoxide detector going off, and if you’re experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
Decreased Efficiency and Increased Heating Bills
A furnace that isn’t heating a home as well as it used to can be an easy thing to overlook. Perhaps it’s been taking a bit longer to achieve the set temperature. Or it may be unevenly heating the rooms of your home.
But a sharp rise in heating bills isn’t easy to overlook for those who pay attention to their monthly bills. If you’re getting poor performance from your furnace and are paying a lot for that poor service, this is a truly frustrating situation. You deserve an energy-efficient furnace that’ll heat your home to a comfortable level without having to pay a lot for utilities.
See what keeps our customers saying “I Love My Design Comfort!” Contact us for quality furnace repair in Salt Lake City.
