7 Indicators It Is Time for a Furnace Replacement

Top Indicators It Is Time for a Furnace Replacement: Ensure Comfort and Safety This Winter

This is the furnace replacement test run, the home stretch for your residential furnace. For the next few months, we can expect the coldest days and weeks of the year; if there is a question about whether it will make it through the winter, the answer will come now.

Hopefully, you do not wait this long or take such risks with your family’s health and safety. HVAC systems, like other mechanical systems, age predictably and give clear indicators as problems develop. If the furnace replacement indicators are unfamiliar, here are a few to consider.

1. How old is your furnace? Mechanical systems age in obvious patterns and last remarkably similar periods. The average air conditioner’s lifespan is 15 to 20 years and the average furnace’s lifespan is 20+ years. Homeowners who wait too long before planning furnace replacement are risking an emergency failure.
2. How healthy is your furnace? An aging system shows age by a frequent need for repairs. A repair is not necessarily bad news. But when the same part must be replaced again and again or large (expensive) components need to be replaced, it becomes a serious indicator.
3. Does your furnace smell or sound unusual? A furnace should ONLY recirculate the indoor air. Whenever the air becomes stale, musty, or smells like something is burning, the furnace does not work properly. When the regular furnace noises become loud or change, these sounds cry out for immediate help. It is best to listen.
4. Did you notice a change in color for the flame? When a natural gas furnace is functioning properly, the flame should be a steady blue color. If the flame changes color and appears yellow, this indicates the burner is getting insufficient oxygen for a clean burn of the gas. Part of the energy of the gas is going out with the exhaust.
5. Is the furnace using more energy? It is easy for the rising price of energy to mask the inefficiency of an aging furnace but take a deeper look. Compare the KWHs of electricity or the cubic feet of natural gas from year to year to uncover whether your furnace is performing properly or not.
6. How well is the furnace heating? If an older system is having a hard time keeping your family warm and comfortable, do not expect this to change on its own. Inefficiency, increased energy use, and poor performance should be troubling signs to homeowners who make themselves aware.
7. Is your furnace making your family ill? Does poor indoor air quality give family members a headache, trigger allergies, or other respiratory illnesses? This is a most serious issue and should generate an immediate plan of action.

These furnace replacement indicators will help any homeowner determine the correct time to replace a furnace.

Winter Furnace Health Check: Key Indicators to Identify If It Is Time for a Furnace Replacement

As winter rages on, it’s crucial to assess your furnace’s health to ensure it can withstand the cold winter months ahead. Key indicators it is time for a furnace replacement include its age, frequent need for repairs, unusual smells or sounds, changes in flame color, increased energy usage, poor heating performance, and impacts on indoor air quality. These signs help homeowners decide when it’s time to replace their furnaces to maintain comfort and safety.

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our furnace replacement services, schedule an appointment or visit our furnace replacement and installation information page.