How To Tell If You Need A New Furnace

26 September 2018
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When it comes to your level of comfort in your home, one of your most important assets is your heating and cooling system. It is what stands between your home and the extreme temperatures outdoors. Because of the importance of your HVAC system, it is important to know some of the signs that your furnace needs to be replaced. This will help you better plan for the replacement costs as well as get your new furnace installed before you are in a dire situation where your old furnace goes out completely. Get to know some of the ways you can tell you need a new furnace. Then, you can contact an HVAC specialist as soon as possible.

Your Thermostat Says One Thing and You Feel Another

One of the main signs that you may need a new furnace in your home is if the thermostat tells you one thing while your experience tells you another. In other words, the thermostat will read a certain temperature but the rooms in your house feel much colder and more uncomfortable than that.

Oftentimes, a sign that your furnace is out is that some rooms in your house will feel colder. This inconsistency in the heating of your home shows that your furnace is struggling to push the heated air throughout your home. This could be an issue with the blower and fan or might be a more significant system problem.

Your Furnace Doesn't Sound Right

Another possible sign that your furnace is on its last limb is a change in the way your furnace sounds when it is operating. If you turn your furnace on for the first time in the chilly season and hear loud banging sounds or rattling, this is one such cause for concern.

Any change in the way your furnace sounds under normal operation is reason enough to contact an HVAC specialist to come take a look at things. It is possible a screw or bolt came loose, and it is an easy fix. However, it is also a distinct possibility that your furnace is failing you, especially if the noise is loud and/or aggressive sounding.

Your Furnace Still Has a Pilot Light

Furnace design has changed a great deal over the years. And one of the many changes made to furnaces is the discontinuation of the pilot light. Pilot lights are a flame that burns constantly in order to ignite the furnace when it needs to heat up. These were used in furnaces up until about 20 to 25 years ago.

More modern furnaces have an electronic system that is responsible for furnace ignition. This is easier to use and manage, and you do not have to worry about your pilot light going out.

As such, if your system still has a pilot light, it is probably at the end of its life cycle. Most furnaces last up to 20 years or so and then need to be replaced. So, if you still have a pilot light, it is only a matter of time for you to need a replacement furnace.

Knowing these signs that your furnace needs to be replaced will help you plan for this major purchase. And if you are ready to purchase that new furnace or you have noticed signs of trouble, call an HVAC specialist right away for an inspection of your system.

To learn more, get in touch with a company like Thurlow's Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.