Your furnace is one of the hardest-working systems that provides essential comfort. However, like any other appliance you have, it has a finite lifespan. Below, we’ll go into detail about how to identify when it’s time to replace your furnace so you can do so accordingly.
Why Is Furnace Replacement Important?
Far too often, when it comes to appliances, homeowners continue to use their furnace until it suffers a massive breakdown. However, this isn’t the best strategy when it comes to your home’s furnace. With heating bills taking up nearly 30 to 50% of your home’s energy usage throughout the winter, you don’t want to be stuck with an inefficient furnace.
An inefficient furnace will increase your energy bills, compromise your indoor air quality, and increase your risk of experiencing an unexpected breakdown. Replacing your furnace at an appropriate time will prevent many of these issues and give you the added convenience of better operating efficiency from a more modern unit.
Typical Furnace Lifespans
The lifespan of your furnace is dependent on numerous factors. Some of the most important include its quality of insulation, frequency of maintenance, total usage, and energy source. In general, furnaces that run on electricity will last between 20 and 30 years. Furnaces that burn propane, natural gas, or oil to create heat will last for 15 to 20 years on average.
If you live in a cold climate, your furnace will run more often and wear out faster than if you live in a mild or moderate climate. Getting routine annual tune-ups will extend the longevity of your unit, while skipping this mandatory maintenance can dramatically shorten its lifespan.
Signs You Need a Replacement
Once you understand how age can affect your furnace and its overall operating performance, one of the very next questions you’ll likely have is when it’s time for a replacement. Below, we’ll describe some key indicators that will let you know that a furnace replacement is necessary soon.
Aging System
If your furnace relies on fuel and the combustion process to create heat, it’s best to start planning for a replacement around the 15-year mark. While your system may still operate beyond this age, its efficiency will starkly drop off. Additionally, an aging unit will be more prone to sudden failure than newer units.
Rising Energy Bills
One thing no homeowner wants to see is rising energy bills. However, if you notice that your utility bills are steadily increasing despite no major changes in your system’s fuel usage, it’s a key indicator that it’s operating inefficiently. Inefficient operation can come from numerous factors, like worn-out internal components, leaky ductwork, and even outdated technology. If a system tune-up doesn’t enhance the operating efficiency of your furnace, it’s time to consider planning for an upgrade.
Frequent Repairs
It’s perfectly normal to need more frequent repairs for an aging furnace. However, if you’re calling once a year or more to get repair service, it’s a key indication you should start looking into getting a new unit. Additionally, if the cost to repair your existing furnace equals 50% of the total price of a new furnace, it’s best to purchase a new one. You may even want to consider a furnace replacement whenever your warranty coverage on your existing furnace expires. This way, you’re not stuck paying out of pocket for unexpected repair bills from something that should have bee covered.
Yellow Burner Flame
If your furnace burns fuel to create heat, it should have a consistent blue flame when it’s running. If you notice the flame seems to be more yellow or orange in color, it’s a key indication that there’s incomplete combustion. In some cases, an adjustment to your air and fuel ratio may solve this issue. However, in a lot of cases, a yellow flame typically means the heat exchanger for your unit is cracked. This is allowing dangerous carbon monoxide to seep into your home, which can lead to a slew of health issues.
Benefits of Upgrading
There’s no doubt that getting a new furnace for your home can be quite costly for the average homeowner. Fortunately, there are a ton of other great benefits you can gain from upgrading your furnace to a more modern system.
Lower Energy Bills
Probably one of the most desirable benefits of getting a new furnace is that it will operate more efficiently than your existing one. Furnaces produced today are much more energy efficient than those produced just a decade ago. You even have the option of purchasing high-efficiency units that can further maximize your energy savings.
Better Comfort
One of the first things that a lot of homeowners realize when they upgrade from an outdated furnace is that their newer furnace creates a more comfortable home environment. Modern furnaces have integrated features like variable-speed blowers and two-stage settings that allow for a more consistent interior temperature. You won’t have to deal with a constant blast of warm air as your furnace kicks on to full capacity and then a chilling off period afterward, like with your outdated unit.
Smart Technology Integration
One very convenient feature of modern furnaces is that they come with smart technology. Just a basic smart thermostat can do wonders for optimizing your heating system’s performance and reducing your energy bills throughout the winter season. You can even integrate your new furnace with your existing smart home technology to provide more functionality and overall household convenience.
New Warranty
Unfortunately, all furnaces are prone to breaking down from time to time. Newer furnaces are much less likely to break down, which can go a long way in giving you peace of mind about the operation of your system. You can further ease your mind by knowing that your new system will come with brand-new warranty coverage. This will ensure that you don’t have to pay out of pocket for repair bills if you do experience a system malfunction over the winter.
When’s the Best Time For Furnace Replacement
The beauty of being able to catch these signs of an aging furnace early on can allow you to do a replacement at a time that’s most convenient for your schedule. Typically, it’s best to replace your furnace in the late summer to early fall season. This will provide the best deals from HVAC manufacturers.
It’s also a time when the weather is mild, so you don’t have to worry about being without heat when your new unit is getting installed. Even better, most HVAC companies have more convenient appointment scheduling because this is one of their off-season times before winter hits.
Helpful Furnace Replacement Service
Fox Heating, Cooling & Plumbing offers helpful furnace replacement service for the Wheat Ridge, CO, community. We can also assist with all your furnace maintenance, repair, and new installation needs. Just call our office today to book your next service appointment with one of our knowledgeable heating technicians.
