Red Flags that Your Furnace May Need to Be Replaced

If you’re like the vast majority of people, you probably don’t give much thought to your furnace. It’s only when things go wrong that we give our furnaces much thought. Here’s the problem with that: By the time your furnace sends up the kind of warning signs that make you take notice, there’s usually something wrong that will require more than just a quick fix. You could be in for a costly bill. Prevent that problem by familiarizing yourself with the kind of warning signs to look for, so you can nip problems in the bud before they have the chance to get bigger and more costly to fix.
A furnace of a certain age
Like most other things, a furnace has a typical lifespan. As your furnace gets older, it’s normal for it to stop performing at peak levels. Most furnace have a typical lifespan of about 15 years, so if you know yours is about to creep up toward that mark, you should start paying attention to its performance. If you notice a marked difference in its performance, it may be time for an upgrade. By upgrading your furnace before it conks out on you, you can avoid the inevitable HVAC repair NYC bill you would otherwise have to face if your furnace were to stop working altogether. As an added bonus, you’ll save money down the road, too, because your new furnace will be more energy efficient than the old one.
Sudden increase in monthly bills
Pay attention to your monthly energy bills.  If you notice that your bills are suddenly higher than they used to be, that could be an indication that your furnace isn’t working optimally anymore. It could be that your furnace is having to work harder to heat your home, which means it is using more energy. That would explain your higher-than-usual bills.
Strange noises
Most of the time, our furnaces just become white noise in the background, something we don’t really give much attention to, or even hear, most of the time. If, however, you suddenly start to notice that your furnace is making some unusual noises, it could be time for a checkup. Strange noises are your furnace’s way of telling you that it needs some attention.  It’s like it’s saying, “Hey! You there! Help me!”
More and more repairs
If you have gotten to be on a first-name basis with your HVAC technician lately, that’s a good sign that your furnace has needed more than its fair share of repairs lately.  It’s okay to keep repairing your furnace for a while, but after a certain point it becomes more economical to replace your old furnace instead of repairing it. Furnaces are like cars that way. After a while, it actually makes more financial sense to bite the bullet and get a new one rather than continuing to repair an old one.
If your furnace is sending up any of these warning signs, it may be trying to tell you something. Don’t ignore these signs; doing so could result in the need for more extensive and costly repairs.

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