Maintaining a functioning furnace system is crucial in surviving the frigid Canadian winters. The last thing you want is to do is scramble to replace a broken furnace system in the dead of winter. As long as you pay attention to how your furnace is running, you can easily spot the signs that your furnace is going to need replacing.

Here are some indications that it may be time to invest in a new furnace system:

1. Your Furnace is Old

Depending on how well you care for your furnace and keep up with maintenance, it should last for approximately 20 years. However, a you should start to consider a new furnace by the time it’s 15 years old.

Unless you know when the original furnace installed and how well it was maintained, it’s difficult to know what shape its in. In order to determine the condition of your furnace, have a professional HVAC technician inspect the unit and perform any required maintenance work.

At Peak Hydronics, our preventative maintenance philosophy ensures that your heating system runs smoothly. If you are interested in having your furnace inspected, we take the time to look over your unit from head-to-toe to help prevent potential issues and to advise on replacing your furnace.

2. You’re Repairing Your Furnace More Frequently

One sure sign that your furnace is nearing the end of its lifespan is how often you are performing repairs on the unit. As a general rule of thumb, if you are spending over 50% of the cost of a new furnace in repairs, it is time to replace it.

If your furnace is near the end of its lifespan (15 years or older) – even a small repair is a sign that you should start shopping for a new furnace.

3. Your Heating Bill is Increasing

As furnaces wear down and age, they become less energy efficient. They must work harder to produce the heat necessary to warm your home. This increase in production effort requires higher energy use. If you notice an increase in consumption on your electricity bill, it may be due to your furnace. This is an indication that your furnace needs to be replaced.

Furnaces have become more energy efficient over the years. For example, a gas furnace made in the 1970s has an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficient (AFUE) of approximately 65%. Newer models have an AFUR of 78% (the lowest allowed by law) to 97%.

Even if your older furnace is in good shape, a newer model will provide better energy efficiency and reduce your electricity bill in the long run.

4. Your Home is Inconsistently Heated

When a furnace is coming to the end of its life expectancy, it will begin to heat the rooms of your house at different temperatures. This is because they lose the ability to distribute heat evenly.

Inconsistent heating may also be caused by clogged filters or blocked vents. Before you haul out your old furnace, ensure that the filters are cleaned and the vents are cleared.

If this does not remedy the issue of inconsistent heating, it may be time to invest in a new furnace.

5. Your Furnace is Noisy

Furnaces, by nature, make noise. However, if your furnace is excessively noisy and making rattling, popping, humming, screeching or squealing noises, it is likely time to replace it.

Again, just like inconsistent heating, a noisy furnace could be a result of other causes. If your furnace is making loud noises, it is recommended to have it inspected by a licensed HVAC technician to determine if it a reparable issue or if the entire unit needs to be replaced.

Our HVAC technicians are trained and available to inspect your furnace unit. We can help you determine whether repairs can be performed or if it is time to replace your furnace with a newer and more energy efficient model.

Contact us today for more information about the condition of your furnace.