When is it time to stop repairing my furnace and start shopping for a new energy-efficient furnace?
DE, PA, and MD residents encounter brutal winters. Last winter was one of the worst on record putting many people in danger. That’s why your furnace is one of your home’s most important investments and appliances. As a homeowner, you should be educated about your furnace.
In this blog post, we want you to know when it may be time to repair or purchase a new furnace before you are in an emergency on a cold winter’s night. Warning signs that your furnace is about to become extinct.
- Your furnace is more than 15 years old. The life expectancy of home furnaces averages between 16 and 20 years (that’s 1 million in dinosaur years). If your furnace is approaching this age or older, you should begin shopping. Make it a planned home improvement rather than an emergency call in subfreezing temperatures. If your oil furnace is 12 years old or younger and your furnace is properly maintained and protected, you should be safe.
- Your repair costs are 50% of the cost of a replacement. As your furnace ages, you may start playing the replace-a-part game. Each year, you need another part replaced or repaired. If you spend much time and money keeping that old furnace running, consider a new oil or natural gas furnace in DE, PA, or MD.
- Your efficiency is lower than 56% AFUE. This lower efficiency eats more fuel and costs more money to generate heat.
- You are experiencing a spike in your energy bills. Your old furnace may not be performing properly. Furnaces lose efficiency as they age. This increases your need for (unnecessary) fuel deliveries. Consider replacing your furnace with a more energy-efficient model.
- Your furnace is roaring. Well, roaring may be a slight embellishment. However, if your furnace makes strange noises like banging, popping, or squealing, this is typical of an aging system and a sign that it’s near the end of its life.
- If that old furnace has stopped working, it’s time for a new, high-efficiency one. Our professional staff is fully trained to install, maintain, and repair oil, natural gas, propane gas, and electric heating systems. This includes hot air, hot water, boiler, heat pump, and water heaters (traditional and modern tankless on-demand water heaters). We’ve been successfully installing central heating solutions for over 70 years.
