Discover 8 fast and easy ways to know when to replace your
gas furnace before it costs you money or becomes unsafe.
A comfortable
and healthy home environment requires an efficient and sound heating
system. Such a system heats the home without using large amounts of
energy and it does not endanger the indoor air quality by overtaxing
the supply of oxygen needed for combustion.
It is important to know the 8 warning signs that your
furnace may need replacing. It is especially important not to wait
until a crisis occurs. A cold night in January, with the furnace
faltering or failed, is not the time to assess your heating system. Do
it now.
Information is the key to making a wise decision. This
report will teach you what the 8 warning signs that your furnace may
need replacing.
This report is based on research undertaken by the federal
Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power. It also
draws on the training resources of
heating and cooling manufacturers,
trade associations, and field service personnel.
1. How old is your furnace?
A good place to start is to compare your furnaces age to
the national average. The average life expectancy of furnaces in homes
today is between 16 and 20 years. If your furnace is close to this age
or older, you should begin shopping. Shopping for a replacement furnace
in an emergency does not allow time to make your best decision. Most
people prefer to replace their furnace as a planned home improvement
rather than a panic replacement when your furnace is faltering or
failed. For starters, look at your furnace to see if you have a pilot
light. If you do, it is almost certain to be over 25 years old!
2. Gas & Electric Bills Going Up?
Rising gas and electric prices are not the only reason for
high bills. Furnaces often lose their efficiency as they age especially
if they have not been properly maintained. As a result your furnace
may run longer to provide the same amount of heat. This will cause your
gas & electric bills to go up. The money you pay the gas &
electric company every month could be used to pay for new furnace.
3. Any Furnace Repairs in the last 2 years?
Furnaces are like cars. As they age, you can replace one
part only to have to replace another part next year. It doesn't take
long to spend $500 just to keep the old furnace running. Furnaces incur
the most breakdowns in the last 2 years of their lives. Another repair
sign is whether you had to wait to get parts replaced. As a furnace
ages, it gets harder to get replacement parts. This waiting can really
be cold on a below zero night.
4. Does your thermostat keep you comfortable?
Do you feel that some rooms are too cold while others are
too hot? Or are you always trying to adjust your thermostat to make
your home more comfortable? This is a sign that your furnace lacks the
ability to properly distribute the air to keep you comfortable in your
home.
5. Is your burner flame yellow instead of blue?
A yellow or flickering flame may be a sign that poisonous
carbon monoxide could be created by your furnace. Other possible signs
of carbon monoxide are: Streaks of soot around furnace; Absence of an
upward draft in your chimney; Excess moisture found on windows, walls,
or other cold surfaces; Excessive rusting on flue pipes, other pipe
connections, or appliance jacks; Small amount of water leaking from the
base of the chimney, vent, or flue pipe; Rust on the portion of the
vent pipe visible from the outside.
6. Is your furnace making strange noises?
Old furnaces often start to make some strange noises as
they get toward the end of their life. Have you heard any banging,
popping, rattling, or squealing noises coming from your furnace?
Another noise is when you hear the furnace blower running excessively.
Does your blower turn on & off frequently or does it blow cold air
sometimes? If so, this is a sign that your furnace may need to be
replaced.
7. How have you & your family been feeling?
Furnaces as they age run the risk of developing cracks in
the heat exchanger inside your furnace. Carbon monoxide, if present,
could leak into your home undetected. Signs of this may be frequent
headaches, a burning feeling in nose or eyes, nausea, disorientation,
flu-like symptoms. Should you experience any of these, air out your
house, open a window to the furnace room and immediately call a gas
service technician. Cracks in the heat exchanger can occur undetected
which is why no one advises waiting until they occur.
8. Is your house dry or dusty?
Old furnaces often lack the ability to moisturize and
clean the air in your home. Your house air may feel stuffy or stale.
Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies to airborne dust,
mold, pollen, viruses or dander? Or does anyone suffer from dry nose,
dry throat, or dry skin? Other signs may be frequent dust accumulation,
static shocks, drooping plants, furniture cracking and musical
instruments that do not stay in tune. These signs all suggest that your
old furnace is not capable of providing you with the comfort you and
your family may want.
