7 Signs That Your Furnace Needs to be Replaced Soon

Since we are now well into the heating season, your furnace probably has been operating long enough that you might be noticing some problems. Most of them are minor and can be resolved by changing your furnace filter, or getting your annual preventive maintenance checkup for your furnace. But how do you know if these problems are serious and that your furnace may on its last legs before giving up the ghost altogether? Here are seven signs to look for.

New furnace installation in Marlborough, MA

1 – Frequent Repairs

When we say frequent furnace repairs, we are not talking about your standard preventive maintenance activities, we are talking about recurring problems that cause the furnace to work poorly (or not at all). If you are on a first-name basis with your local HVAC repairman, this is a sign that you may need to stop throwing good money after bad and replace your furnace.

2 – Your Furnace is More Than 15 Years Old

Most furnaces only have a life expectancy of around 15 to 20 years. At this point, replacing it will save you some money in the long run because today’s new furnaces are more efficient than those produced 15 to 20 years ago.

3 – Unexpected High Heating Bills

Higher heating bills are normal if you experience a long, frigid spell where the furnace has to work a lot harder, but if your heating bill suddenly spikes when the weather is not that cold, or the furnace seems to run constantly when it shouldn’t be necessary, there may be a problem with your airflow, such as a dirty furnace filter, or a more serious problem.

4 – Getting Sick More Often

If the members of your household seem to be getting sick more often, constantly complain of headaches, nausea, dizziness, or flu-like symptoms, this may be a sign of a carbon monoxide leak. Sometimes CO poisoning may cause hallucinations (visions, ghosts, or phantom noises) which may explain some cases of haunted houses. But if this issue is not addressed quickly, you could die from CO poisoning. Each year accidental carbon monoxide poisoning causes around 450 deaths and approximately 50,000 ER visits in the U.S. This deadly problem is simple to avoid, simply install a carbon monoxide detector in your home, and get your furnace inspected for CO leaks by a trained HVAC technician.

5 – Weird Noises

Some noise when your furnace is in operation is normal, but if you hear excess squealing, banging, or rumbling, it could be a sign of mechanical problems.

6 – Frequent Starting and Stopping

If your furnace cycles on and off before it really gets going, it doesn’t get the chance to complete a heating cycle. This obviously doesn’t heat the home properly and could have a number of causes such as a dying fan motor, or has a heat sensor that needs to be cleaned.

7 – Yellow Pilot Light

If your furnace is a natural gas furnace, look at the color of the flame when it ignites. The flame in a healthy furnace should be blue. A yellow flame indicates that the gas is not burning off completely which may be a sign of a dirty burner or a poorly vented furnace which may mean that there is a danger of CO poisoning.

Muirfield Mechanical is Eastern Massachusetts’ Premier Heating Systems Installation and Repair Specialist

Since 1963, Muirfield Mechanical has been installing and repairing boilers, furnaces, and other home heating systems for Westford, Ayer, Sudbury, Marlborough, Hudson, Stow, Groton, Concord, Littleton, Bolton, Acton, Arlington, Lexington, Belmont, Cambridge, Newton, and the surrounding cities and areas around Eastern Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area. Give us a call at (978) 263-7130, fill out our easy contact form, or send an email to lswanson@muirfieldmechanical.com to get a free, no-obligation estimate on a new heating system installation for your home or office. Our heating system specialists can assess your situation and come up with the best solution for you that can be quickly installed at an affordable price.

2024/03/29