Our Milwaukee Furnace Company Has Answers
Here in SE Wisconsin, there are 6 basic warning signs when it comes to furnace replacement services. The signs are pretty straightforward, but it always pays to get the opinion of an expert before kicking your old furnace to the curb. If the signs below sound familiar, we encourage you to get a free furnace replacement consultation to discuss your options.
1. Furnace Lifespan
Today’s gas furnaces are designed to last between 15-20 years if properly maintained. (According to Consumer Reports, the average life expectancy of a gas furnace is 18 years, to be exact.) But even the best kept equipment will age – resulting in worn parts, less efficiency, and more frequent breakdowns. The older the furnace, the more you’ll be troubled with all of this, and considering a furnace replacement becomes a reality. As a good rule of thumb, if your furnace is over 15 years old and been properly maintained every year, it’s time to start thinking about furnace installation services.
If you’re not sure, you can check the owner’s manual, call the manufacturer with the model number, or ask one of our HVAC technicians to take a look. Another trick is to check to see if your furnace has a pilot light. If it does not, it is almost certainly over 25 years old. In this case, a new furnace installation is your best bet.
3. Cost & Frequency of Furnace Repairs
A tell-tale sign it’s time for a new furnace is if your furnace repair company is on speed dial, and you spend more money on furnace repair services than a bachelor does on beer. Occasional wear and tear is normal, but frequent breakdowns combined with aging equipment is a bad sign.
Furnace repair costs also start to come into play to as you weigh your options. Our advice is to use the $5,000 rule (multiple the furnace repair cost by the age of furnace, and if it’s more than $5,000 it’s time to invest in a new furnace.) Another way to look at it, is if the total cost of the furnace repair is more than 50% the cost of a new furnace – invest in a new furnace.
4. Uneven Heating
If you’re constantly hot then cold (…and assuming you’re not a middle-aged woman with hot flashes,) uneven heating could be a sign of a waning furnace. The problem could be your furnace is no longer able to evenly distribute heat through your home.
5. Furnace Banging & Other Noises
Does your furnace make strange noises like rattling, squealing or banging when you turn it on? Older equipment tends to complain louder and more frequently towards the end of its life.
6. Climbing Heating Bills
Increased heating bills in the winter aren’t necessarily just because it’s gotten cold. It could be a variety of things like duct work leaks or lack of furnace maintenance, but it can also be an indicator of an inefficient furnace that’s usually running below 65% efficiency. With older furnaces, there’s only so much furnace maintenance and repairs that can be done to stabilize the efficiency. If your furnace is getting up there in years, it’s worth scheduling a free in-home consultation to discuss your furnace replacement options.
While furnace replacement isn’t always the answer, these warning signs can be a good indicator that your furnace is close to retirement. Our comfort technicians can give you an honest and free consultation to look at your existing furnace and discuss your replacement options.
Contact our Menomonee Falls furnace company to schedule a free in-home consultation.
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