Why You Need To Prioritize Furnace Repairs?
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: January 19, 2022
Table of Contents
Have you ever had a broken furnace on a freezing winterâs night? This can quickly become a crisis, especially if you have children or older family members living with you, who are more prone to falling ill. Have you ever had a broken furnace on a freezing winterâs night? Furnace repairs can quickly become a crisis, especially if you have children or older family members living with you, who are more prone to falling ill.
If youâve experienced this unfortunate situation, you know how important it is to start preparing your house for the winter months, when the first signs of autumn appear. Having your furnace repaired or replaced is one of the essential preparations to make for winter.
If your furnace is not functioning well, itâs best to get a professional to advise you if it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. Search for âheating services near meâ to find an expert who can assist you with furnace repairs and inspections in your area.
Prioritize furnace repairs before the winter months.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Furnace?
If your furnace is still working, but not warming your home consistently, it might only need to be replaced. A professional technician will be able to advise you if you should buy a new furnace instead.
You need to consider the following factors when you are deciding if you should replace or repair your system:
- Your furnace becomes less efficient each year, even with maintenance. With a 15-year lifespan, an unmaintained furnace might need replacing after 10 years. Replacing an old system is more economical than constant repairs.
- Is your system difficult to start? Get a professional to inspect it.
- Strange noises or foul odors also indicate a potential problem with your furnace.
- Air is not flowing properly from the systemâs registers.
- The furnace is not heating the rooms in your house consistently.
- The system has visible leaks and you can see water around it.
- If your heating bill has spiked, your furnace is probably using too much energy, and itâs time to have it serviced.
- If some rooms are warmer than others in your house, itâs also a sign that your furnace is becoming less effective.
- Minor problems such as low airflow, or water leaks can be repaired.
- If the heat exchanger or control module has been damaged, it will be more cost-effective to replace the system.
- If you want to sell your house, replace an old furnace. During inspection, a failing system might need replacement, or buyers could ask you to lower your asking price.
- Replacing your old heating system before retirement is a good investment. Youâll enjoy comfort and cost savings without worrying about replacement on a reduced income.
- A good heat source is also essential for your health as you age since older adults can be more susceptible to hypothermia in a cold house.
If You Have a Carbon Monoxide Leak
If you suspect that the combustion chamber of your furnace is cracked, it needs to be replaced immediately, as carbon monoxide poisoning could be lethal to your family.
Watch out for the following signs if you suspect that your furnace might be leaking carbon monoxide:
- Rusted pipes
- Moisture on surfaces, walls, and windows
- Soot around the furnace
- The burner flame is not blue, but yellow
- You or your family members experience medical symptoms like headaches, nausea, disorientation, or other flu-like symptoms
Should you notice these symptoms and anyone in your household is experiencing the medical symptoms, leave your house right away, seek medical attention, and ask your utility company to turn off the gas. Itâs also essential to replace your furnace in this situation.
Benefits of Maintaining Your Furnace
There are many benefits to maintaining your furnace before you need to repair or replace it. Preventable problems can be fixed before they lead to expensive maintenance.
Health and Safety
Professional technicians should regularly check your furnaceâs gas valve, pilot light, and heat exchanger to make sure everything is in good working order. If the system fails because itâs not inspected regularly, carbon monoxide poisoning can become a risk for your family.
A system breakdown also increases the risk of an explosion or fire, which can lead to a loss of life. Frequent inspections can provide you with peace of mind in terms of your familyâs safety.
Airflow becomes better if the furnace is serviced regularly. This is especially important if you have family members who suffer from respiratory infections.
It will also help if you clean the dust and debris inside the vents and ducts. You can remove the covers of the vents and wipe them down or vacuum inside them.
Fewer Repairs
Technicians can discover potential problems when they surface the furnace before they really become an issue.
The parts in the furnace are also fixed and cleaned during maintenance, which decreases the need for future repairs. Regular maintenance will also increase the lifespan of the system, as its components will last longer if they are tuned every year.
The furnaceâs moving parts are usually lubricated during maintenance, the gas pressure is inspected, and electrical connections are tightened.
Lower Energy Bills
If your furnace is well-maintained it should use less energy, and your energy bill will decrease in the long run. Your repair and replacement costs will also be lower if you maintain your furnace properly.
Manufacturerâs Warranty
Annual maintenance could be written into your manufacturerâs warranty. Your manufacturer wonât pay for issues that could have been prevented.
Improved Efficiency
Your furnace will need to work harder to heat your home if itâs not properly maintained. If belts are loose, it means running time will be longer, and the furnace will be slower at heating your home. More gas and power will be used in this way.
Final Thoughts
Itâs essential to maintain your furnace if you want to prevent costly breakdowns, at times when you can least afford it. If your furnace is old, or you are being plagued by constant breakdowns, it will be worth your while to ask the professionals if your furnace should be replaced.
It might seem like a big expense all at once, but keep in mind that costly breakdowns over an extended period will work out more expensive than buying a new furnace.
Thank you for reading!