With winter upon us, it is now time to evaluate whether or not your furnace can keep you warm for another cold season. If your furnace isn’t up to the task, it’s best to replace it right now. Otherwise, you run the risk of your system breaking down on you in the middle of one of the coldest months of the year. Of course, the signs that your furnace is nearing the end of its life can sometimes be hard to identify. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more common signs that your furnace is in need of replacement this winter.
Drop in Energy Efficiency
As a furnace accumulates wear and tear, its efficiency decreases. This forces the system to stay on for a longer and longer period of time in order to reach the target temperature, which in turn leads to a higher cost of operation. If your furnace is costing more and more to operate, it may be an indication that it’s time to replace it.
Too Many Repairs
Normally, a furnace shouldn’t need repairs more than once every couple of years. In a furnace nearing the end of its life, the wear and tear can cause multiple parts to start failing within weeks of each other. If you have to keep repairing your furnace every couple of months, it’s time to replace it.
Extreme Age
Furnaces are typically only manufactured to last around 20 years. After that point, they start to develop all sorts of issues like those listed above. If your furnace is older than 20 years, it will be far cheaper for you to replace it than to keep it running.