Don't wait until the unit is gasping for breath or has already died. You've heard about Murphy's Law, haven't you? The time that you most need your crippled gas furnace to work is when it's the most likely to quit on you. Gas Furnace replacement should be seriously considered when you notice any of the following warning signals.
- Any Health Warnings of Carbon Monoxide - If anyone is experiencing frequent headaches, burning eyes or noses, flu symptoms that don't go away, it's a good sign that the heat exchanger may have developed fissures on the interior of your gas furnace.
- Energy Bills Are Climbing - Older gas furnaces aren't as energy efficient. Your unit might be running overtime trying to perform the job. If so, it's wasting both gas and electric while trying to do what it simply can't do adequately anymore. It would be more cost effective to purchase and install a new gas furnace and pay for it with the energy savings.
- A Yellow Flame - Your gas furnace should burn with a stable blue flame. If you're looking at a flame that's yellow or appears to flicker, it's a possible cue that your unit is spewing dangerous carbon monoxide into your environment. Other signs that can confirm this include the build-up of soot, the lack of a chimney updraft, excessive rusting of furnace pipes or water seeping out from any portion of the exhaust system.
- Waiting For Obsolete Replacement Parts - When you find yourself out in the cold while waiting for replacement parts to be special ordered, it's a big sign that it's time to move on to a more modern gas furnace that has readily available parts.
- Repair After Repair - When you find yourself replacing one part after another in the course of a year or two, you know the end is near. Most furnace repair and replacement costs occur in the final 2 years.
- Old Age - Furnaces don't live forever. The average anticipated lifetime of a furnace is about fifteen to twenty years. While it's possible for one to function beyond this point, it's clearly time to start scoping out a replacement when moving beyond the 15-year mark. Shop before it becomes an emergency so you can make adequate comparisons between manufacturers, models and pricing.
- Stale Dry Air - If your skin, throat or nose feel dry, it's quite possibly because your furnace is no longer functioning properly. Other indicators are plants that appear to be wilting, cracks in your wood furnishings and a build-up of static electricity.
Knowing when to replace your furnace is key to maintaining a healthy and safe indoor environment in an energy-efficient, cost saving manner. If you notice any of the above signs, it's time to call your heating specialist.
Our highly-trained and knowledgeable furnace repair technicians can quickly determine if your unit is safe to operate and/or if it's operating as it should. Contact us today to discuss any concerns about your current gas furnace replacement or the installation of a new one. We're here to help you stay safely in the comfort zone. To learn more about services our company offers, please visit our homepage.
