Why You Need To Prioritize Furnace Repairs?

Table of Contents

1. Should You Repair or Replace Your Furnace?[+]
   1. If You Have a Carbon Monoxide Leak
2. Benefits of Maintaining Your Furnace[+]
   1. Health and Safety
   2. Fewer Repairs
   3. Lower Energy Bills
   4. Manufacturer’s Warranty
   5. Improved Efficiency
3. Final Thoughts

Have you ever had a broken furnace on a freezing winter’s 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.

If you’ve 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, it’s best to get a professional to advise you if it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. Search for “heating services near me” 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:

• The age of your furnace. It will become less efficient every year, even if it is well-maintained. The average lifespan of a furnace is around 15 years, and if it hasn’t been maintained, you might have to start looking for a replacement around 10 years. It will be more economical over the long term to have an old system replaced than constantly repairing it.
• 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 system’s 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 it’s time to have it serviced.
• If some rooms are warmer than others in your house, it’s 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, it’s a good idea to replace an old, struggling furnace. Your system might need to be replaced during the inspection if it has reached the end of its life expectancy. It could also lead to buyers requesting you to reduce your asking price.
• It’s also a good investment to replace your old heating system if you’re close to retirement. You can enjoy the comfort and cost savings, without having to worry about replacing your system when you’re 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. It’s 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 furnace’s gas valve, pilot light, and heat exchanger to make sure everything is in good working order. If the system fails because it’s 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 family’s 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 furnace’s 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.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Annual maintenance could be written into your manufacturer’s warranty. Your manufacturer won’t pay for issues that could have been prevented.

Improved Efficiency

Your furnace will need to work harder to heat your home if it’s 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

It’s 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!