The cold weather has arrived, which means most homeowners have started to use their furnace, and those who aren’t will be very shortly. The best way to ensure your home will be heated adequately and efficiently is with a new furnace, but how do you know when it’s time to replace your old furnace? Here are a few warning signs to watch out for that will let you know it’s time for an upgrade.
Utility Bills
Although you’ll notice a slight increase from year to year, if you experience an unwarranted increase in your monthly bills, it could be an indication that it’s time to replace your furnace. As furnaces age and degrade, they become less efficient, which means they waste more and more energy with every passing year in order to heat your home. It should also be noted that aging furnaces, usually 10 years or older, were designed to run at 60% to 80% efficiency, which means that 20 to 40 cents of every dollar gets wasted. New units operate around 90% efficiency in most cases, which means that only 10 cents of every dollar could go unutilized.
Frequent Repairs
If your heating system constantly needs repairs, it’s likely time to replace your furnace. Frequent repairs mean that your unit likely isn’t operating efficiently, which can increase your monthly bills as we mentioned before, and those costly repairs can add up pretty quickly. When you consider how much of your hard-earned money you’re pouring into repairing a unit that will likely stop working in the near future, it usually makes more sense financially to replace your furnace instead.
Trust Your Senses
Strange noises and smells coming from your furnace are usually an indication that it needs to be replaced. Grinding, rattling, or hissing sounds emitting from your furnace are often caused by worn parts like bearings and belts. A certified technician can sometimes repair or replace these parts, but as we noted earlier, if this is happening frequently it’s better to just replace your furnace. If you notice the smell of gas (rotting eggs) coming from your unit, shut it off immediately and call an HVAC professional. Is your unit in sound condition needing only minor repairs, or is it too far gone to economically and safely continue to use it? That’s where your trusted Delta technician can help.
If you think it may be time to replace your heating system,
contact the experts at Delta for help finding the right high-efficiency furnace for your home comfort needs.
Delta Air Systems Ltd. has been proudly serving the HVAC needs of customers in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph regions for over 65 years. We strive to provide our clients with reliable service and cost-effective solutions.
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