5 Signs Your Furnace May Need To Be Replaced

In many areas of the country, winter is starting to slow down, while in others, it is still going strong. In the Texas Panhandle, temperatures are fluctuating between warm and cold. It is still cold enough to run your heater all night, but it is getting slightly warmer during the day. Now is the perfect time to see if your equipment needs maintenance or replacement.

A furnace, like any piece of machinery, needs maintenance and inspections to continue working properly. If you use your furnace often, then it is more likely to need an overhaul due to intense use. This post will go over the five most common signs that your furnace may need to be replaced rather than repaired.

Your furnace is more than 15 years old

If your furnace has been in operation for more than 15 years and you are starting to see issues, it may be time to replace it. Even if it is still running, the costs will continue to increase and its value will continue to decrease. This is because the furnace has lost efficiency and will eventually suffer a catastrophic breakdown.

Think about your furnace like you would a car. Cars that are 15 years old or more will require maintenance more often. At some point, it will become cheaper to replace your car rather than keep fixing it. If your furnace is between 15 and 20 years old and the maintenance costs are 50 percent of the cost of a replacement, it is cheaper to get a new one.

Your energy bills are steadily increasing

The efficiency of your furnace will decrease over time. However, if you begin to note significant jumps in your energy bills or equipment repairs, then it is time to consider replacing your furnace. Most can be expected to last 20 to 30 years, but you will likely start to see issues after year 15.

Room temperatures are inconsistent

Your furnace should evenly heat your home. If the temperature in your house is noticeably different from one room to the next, you may need to consider replacing your HVAC equipment. The usual culprit for uneven heating is an outdated furnace or duct system, although other issues like insulation can cause this issue.

There is soot around the registers

Older furnaces spew out dirt, rust, and dust particles, which lowers the air quality in your home. This issue can also be a sign that your furnace is generating too much CO2. The extra soot can dry out the surrounding walls, furniture, plants, and flooring, damaging your home and belongings. If your filters have never been changed, this issue can be even worse.

The furnace is noisy

If your furnace is more noisy than usual, something is wrong. Furnaces will make noises when you turn them on and off, but you should be familiar with the type and decibel level of those sounds. If you begin to notice that the noises are getting louder, that could be an indication your furnace needs replacement.

You may also need to replace your furnace if you hear noises like popping, humming, rattling, screeching, or squealing. A popping noise indicates that the parts of your furnace are warming and cooling based on changes to the temperature in your system. Humming indicates that your fan motor is beginning to fail, because it should be quiet. A rattling noise points to loose screws, sheet metal, or an unsecured duct. Screeching and squealing noises are a sign that your blower or inducer motor is failing, likely due to an issue with the pulley, a deteriorating belt, or a loose bearing.

Expert HVAC maintenance in Amarillo, Texas

If you need assistance diagnosing, repairing, or replacing your furnace, contact the professionals at Allen’s Tri-State Mechanical Inc. in Amarillo, Texas, today. We provide services for Residential HVAC and Commercial furnaces and HVAC-R systems throughout the Texas Panhandle. To speak with one of our technicians or learn more about our services, call us at (806) 376-8345 or Contact Us by email today. You can also visit us at our office located at 404 S. Hayden St. in Amarillo.