Furnaces are a lifesaver in the winter and can help provide warmth during peak cold weather. But, given that a furnace functions to provide adequate heat and interact with outside elements too, it will break down eventually, despite its relatively long life. When your furnace starts malfunctioning, contact Climate Tamers, the best New Orleans air conditioning contractors and get it professionally serviced! Read on to learn about the lifespan of furnaces and the best time to replace them.
How Long Do Furnaces Generally Last?
While this depends on your type of furnace, a furnace should generally last an average of 15 years. It can have a longer lifespan given enough upkeep and maintenance and the occasional professional servicing. However, the furnace lasting longer may also mean that the overall efficiency of the heat dispersal is lowering, and at this point, a replacement might be more relevant.
Should You Replace Your Furnace?
As mentioned, even if the furnace has reached the 15-year mark and is working fine, it may be going down in terms of efficiency, and replacing the furnace may be a better option. Replacement at this point will help decrease overall electricity bills, disperse more heat throughout the home, and be more value for money due to fewer costs in repairs. If your furnace is broken, replacement is the right choice, but you should also consider it when it gets older!
What Are The Warning Signs Of A Furnace Reaching Its Last Legs?
Here are a few signs that may indicate the need for a furnace replacement:
- Required Frequent Repairs: If the furnace has been giving you more problems recently, especially requiring more repairs and servicing than normal, this may be a sign of your furnace being on its last leg because it generally requires more maintenance and upkeep during the last two years of its life.
- Troublesome Sounds: When the furnace starts making strange and troublesome sounds, it’s never a good sign. These sounds may indicate the malfunctioning or slowing down of the furnace’s internal parts and indicate that the furnace does not have much more life left.
- Climbing Heating Bills: If your heating bills have been steadily increasing due to the furnace, this is a clear sign that the furnace is no longer as efficient as before and requires more energy to heat your living space.
- Inability To Control Temperature: If your furnace finds it increasingly difficult to control the temperature and switch different modes, especially distributing the heat in different areas of the home, it is a sure sign that it is getting old and may be reaching the end of its life.
- Change in The Flame Color: The flame should generally be a vibrant blue if you have a gas furnace. This is why if the color changes to yellow, it is a sign of carbon monoxide leakage and that the furnace can no longer efficiently and safely vent away carbon monoxide and is on its way out.
Summary
If your furnace is breaking down, don’t hesitate to contact Climate Tamers for a professional HVAC inspection, and have the best furnace and AC contractors in New Orleans work for you!
