Repair or Replace? Signs It’s Time for a New Heating System

Repair or Replace? Signs It’s Time for a New Heating System

The last thing you need in the winter is a faulty furnace. But when signs of trouble arise, you might be unsure whether you should hire a handyman or go straight for a replacement. There are a handful of key signs that your furnace is failing, which can sometimes signal that it’s time for a new heating system.

Signs of a Problem with Your Furnace

There are a handful of key signs that your furnace might fail. Thankfully, some of these issues can be stopped early and repaired before the damage gets costly.

• Stopping and Starting  – If your furnace is stopping and starting again, unfortunately, it’s a symptom that can have many causes. It can be as simple as cleaning the heat sensor, or you may have a failing fan motor.
• Leaks – A water leak can be a simple fix, like dripping condensation, or a more serious issue that needs to be attended to by a professional.
• Lack of Heat – If parts of your house are cold or your thermostat needs constant adjustment, then the furnace may be struggling to keep up with heating your home.
• Increased Heating Costs – If your heating bills or usage seem to be spiking, even though you aren’t using the furnace any more often than in previous years, you’ll want to get it looked at to determine the cause.

When It’s Time for a Replacement

Furnaces typically last for about 20 years at the most. If yours has made it that long, you may want to start looking for a replacement now to avoid any emergency fixes in the future.

Likewise, repeated problems can mean that it’s best to invest in a new furnace rather than continue to seek repair after repair. According to This Old House, regular maintenance and inspections can help extend the life of your furnace, but you still may want to consider a replacement once it reaches about 15 years or develops significant problems.

It’s especially important to attend to signs like a rusted flue or yellow flame. A yellow flame on startup can indicate that gas isn’t burning off completely, and carbon monoxide (CO) can be seeping into your home. Likewise, a rusted flue can allow CO that should be vented outdoors to escape inside.

According to the CDC, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO poisoning can be deadly. When in doubt, you may wish to contact one of our professionals at KNZ Heating & Cooling to ensure that your furnace is working properly and your family is safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Regular maintenance can help to identify and prevent many common issues, which is why it’s important to have your heating system checked regularly. But repeated problems can mean it’s time for a replacement. If any of the above signs are happening recurrently, you should consult a professional about your next steps.

Contact Our Respected Local HVAC Professionals

Signs of a faulty furnace can be troubling, and you’ll want to attend to them before the problem gets worse. Sometimes, the safest bet to make sure your furnace lasts through the winter is to replace it altogether. To get the best help possible, you may want to contact a professional. Our experts at KNZ Heating & Cooling can help you make the best choice for your home, whether that’s replacement or repairs, so you can sleep soundly throughout the colder months.