There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when he or she must bite the bullet and go through with a furnace replacement. While your first step should be to see if the unit can be repaired, King and Pierce Counties furnace companies might not have access to the parts if the furnace is over a certain age. The following guidelines can help you to decide if your furnace is nearing the end of its life so that you can start preparing for its eventual replacement.
It’s Old
Furnaces have a certain life expectancy and once they reach that age, there is a good chance that a replacement will become necessary. If you have only recently moved into your home, you might not know how old your furnace actually is.
To get a general idea, have a look at the unit and see if it has an actual pilot light. If it does, there’s a good chance that it’s over 25 years old, as newer models have an electronic light. While having an old furnace doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to replace it immediately, you should start preparing for it because most units only last between 15 and 20 years.
Your Bills are Increasing
Although heating bills can increase for other reasons, such as a rise in gas prices or a particularly cold winter, they shouldn’t move too dramatically from year to year. If you notice that you bills are significantly more than they were the year before, it could mean that your furnace is on its way out.
The good news in this situation is that your new furnace will be much more efficient and you will notice an immediate difference on your heating bills. The money that you’ll save on your monthly heating bills will pay for your new furnace over its lifetime.
You Hear New, Strange Noises
Weird noise coming from your furnace could be a sign that something is wrong. You might hear some banging or rattling noises coming from the unit and this usually means that it’s nearing the end of its life.
Of course, this isn’t an absolute rule, so have a King and Pierce Counties furnace repair company have a look at the unit before you make the decision to have it replaced. You never know, maybe it is something that can be repaired, giving you a few more years out of your existing furnace.
You Have a Dry or Dusty Home
One of the main problems with old furnaces is that they don’t humidify the air in your home the way that new ones do. New furnaces also have the ability to clean the air in your home, which is very advantageous. If members of your family suffer from allergies, having a new furnace installed could help alleviate this discomfort.
Simply put, your old furnace isn’t capable of providing the same level of service as the new ones on the market, making it a good idea to look into a replacement if someone in your family is suffering as a result of the dust, pollen, and dander that is present.
If you find yourself needing a new furnace in Tacoma or Federal Way, give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500. We will send one of your certified technicians by to determine if we can repair your existing furnace, or if it would be more cost efficient to replace the unit.
