Planning Ahead for Your Next Furnace

Hope you’ll take this thought with the optimism with which it is presented: “Nothing lasts forever.” There are lots of reasons why that’s a good thing. For example, do you really want to be placing your mobile calls on a phone the size of a man’s shoe (some seemed that large)? Do you want to be using a dial-up modem (if you know what that is) to check your email?

That’s what the march of time does. As technology improves, older stuff gets further and further behind. Outdated. Inefficient. Breaks down too often. Costs more to keep up than it does to replace.

We’ve all been there. And some of you may be in just that place with your home heating. So how do you know if you’re really there now? Well, when it’s time to replace your furnace, there are some signs you can look for. In particular:

Increasing Age/More Frequent Repairs – That speaks to the first point: nothing lasts forever. If you have a furnace 10 to 15 years or older, you’re facing a situation where you will need an increasing number of repairs. You’ll see this especially in the last two years of furnace life. Plus, as older models continue to age, their replacement parts will be harder to find-meaning, repair delays are another sign.

Higher Energy Bills – A furnace in its declining years will lose its efficiency, and you’ll see that in higher energy bills. In addition, since technology improves over time, the efficiency of these new systems is the best that’s ever been. So you’ll find you’re operating a piece of equipment that is far less energy efficient than the very high-efficiency models now available.

Inconsistent Comfort – Are some rooms too hot or too cold? Are you often adjusting the thermostat? The inability to stay comfortable is a sign that your furnace isn’t able to distribute air properly.

Strange Noises – Actually, this is a universal sign for almost any appliance or piece of equipment. If something doesn’t sound right, there’s probably a reason. Banging, popping and squealing noises, or a blower that turns on and off too frequently, are not the soothing, comforting background music for a cozy evening at home. Get it checked out.

As you keep your eye on frequency of repairs, cost of repairs, cost of energy bills and lack of consistent comfort, let us give you a big-picture look at your home’s energy use to help you in your decision.

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