Is Replacing The Furnace Worth It?
A working furnace prevents pipes from bursting during particularly cold nights. Even if homeowners can manage the discomfort of an indoor chill without a base temperature above 34 degrees, this can wreck a home's infrastructure. A few basic clues can help homeowners decide whether repairs will suffice or if buying a new system makes more sense.
Old Heating Systems
An old furnace will need increasingly more repairs as it reaches the end of the furnace life expectancy. Typically, a furnace's lifespan is anywhere between 15 and 20 years. This does not mean that signs of age won't show before then.
Furnaces can experience minor or major issues after ten years. Faulty thermostats can be fixed or replaced quickly without much cost to homeowners. However, this is a different story if components such as the heat exchanger experience damage.
The heat exchanger can be replaced, but it is often more expensive than replacing the entire furnace. If the furnace is only a few years old, it might be worth it, but homeowners are encouraged to talk to a trained technician before making big decisions.
Rising Utility Bills
A malfunctioning furnace can become expensive in a few different ways. Frequent repairs are one cause of high expenditure, while rising monthly bills are another. Sometimes, rising bills are easy to spot because of a significant spike from one month to the next, while other times, the increase may be much slower.
Homeowners should monitor energy efficiency by paying attention to their annual bills. It is much more difficult to notice a gradual increase over the course of the entire winter than a sudden change from month to month. While these increases may seem small, they do add up over time.
There are several reasons why heating efficiency might decrease. When the furnace must work harder to produce the same temperature as it did in previous years, the first thing to check is the air filters.
Clogged furnace filters are easy and inexpensive to replace and help keep furnaces running longer. Blocked vents also raise bills. If furniture blocks vents, it can cause uneven heating throughout the home.
Unpredictable Heating
If the home feels cold despite the thermostat setting, this indicates that something is likely wrong with one of the heating components. This is especially true if there is adequate space around the vents and the furnace is more than ten years old.
Just because a heater is running does not mean it isn't broken. Malfunctioning furnaces often produce air flow even if the home feels chilly. If the heat exchanger is cracked, the outgoing air is often cold. This is one of the main ways to tell if a furnace needs to be replaced.
Annual furnace maintenance is recommended for all homes, regardless of size. Regular inspections help discover future issues and can save homeowners money. On average, a regular inspection takes approximately one hour, and homeowners do not need to leave their homes.
About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air
Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air provides furnace repair and maintenance services for residents in Fairhope, AL. Whether you're dealing with a heating emergency or want to prepare your heating system for winter, their expert team offers honest advice and long-lasting solutions. To learn more about their $25 off coupon for new customers, call Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air today!
