As the chilly winter months begin to break up and are replaced with increasingly warmer, brighter days, early Spring is a great time to take account of your home's energy usage and make adjustments as you head into summer. Among the costliest, but most beneficial upgrades you can make to your home's energy system is a new furnace. However, it's not a decision to be made lightly, so here are a few signs that it's time to replace your furnace.
Your Furnace is Outdated
Each furnace, no matter how modern or "revolutionary," has a so-called "retirement date" by which the manufacturer recommends replacement. This date is dependent on the make, model, and level of usage, but most furnaces are rated to last between 18-25 years. Check your unit's documentation for more details.
Increased Cost of Repairs
Just like any machine, your furnace needs regular maintenance in order to stay effective and efficient. Newer furnaces require less costly maintenance, such as replacement filters. As your furnace ages and breaks down, repairs tend to get more expensive. If the repair bills are headed in a direction you're not comfortable with, it may be time for an upgrade.
Need for More Frequent Maintenance
Even if your furnace repairs aren't exorbitantly costly, frequency of needed repairs is also a bad sign for the future of your heating unit. Most modern furnaces require light maintenance one or twice per year depending on use, but if you're having to tinker with your furnace more often than you'd like, it's likely that a new furnace is in your future.
Significant Rise in Heating Costs
If you're not keeping close track of your heating costs on a year-by-year basis, you should be. Your furnace, as it ages, may slowly degrade and operate less efficiently, driving up your energy costs. This chart, courtesy of Energy.gov, can help you assess the savings a new furnace may have for every $100 you spent on heating costs.
For more information on improving your home's energy efficiency or to schedule a heating system inspection, contact Pioneer Plumbing and Heating today.
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