You may not know the exact age of your furnace, but you do know it’s old. Probably the furnace was there when you bought your home in Ottawa. Now you’re starting to get a sneaky feeling that it might be time to repair or replace your furnace. How long does a heating system usually last, and when should you replace a furnace?
The following article will answer your furnace questions and give you a clear picture of what to expect.
How Long Do Furnaces Last?
Furnaces generally last up to 20 years in Ottawa, where they get quite a workout in wintertime. This figure holds true if you have been careful about furnace maintenance through the years.
How To Make Your Furnace Last Longer?
Your heating system will benefit from an annual furnace cleaning. This preventative maintenance will not only help your system run more effectively but also make it last longer. A simple DIY action is to change the furnace filter every 1-3 months.
Is Your Furnace High Efficiency?
When your old furnace is getting close to the 20-year mark, consider replacing it with a new high efficiency furnace. An EnergyStar-certified high efficiency furnace will reduce your carbon footprint. It will also save you money on heating costs, while keeping your home comfortably warm. Check out Comfortmaker furnaces if you’re interested in installing one.
Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Furnace
1. High Energy Bills
If you’re tired of shelling out cash to pay high energy costs every month, now might be the right time to replace your furnace. Today’s technology has created furnaces that are much more energy-efficient than the heating systems of just a decade or two ago. Saving money on your utility bills will give you a nice warm glow. The high energy bill may be due to an incorrect furnace size.
2. Too Many Furnace Repairs
Do you feel that your furnace repair person practically lives at your house? Furnace repair costs can drain your wallet fast. Even worse, you’re always worried your next furnace breakdown will be the Big One, which will leave you without heat during an Ottawa cold snap until you bring in a tech for major repairs. If a repair estimate comes to over half the cost of a replacement furnace, the repair is not cost-effective, especially for an outdated system. Replacing your current furnace will get you off the treadmill of costly repairs and restore your peace of mind.
3. Furnace Is Making Loud Noises
Loud noises from your furnace are always a call to action. It could be something as simple as changing your air filter (always a good first move when you suspect a furnace problem) or as complicated—and hazardous—as a cracked heat exchanger, which can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into your home. If air filter replacement doesn’t stop the sounds, have your furnace checked by an HVAC service person, pronto. You may need a new furnace for safety’s sake.
4. Furnace Is Turning On And Off
Furnaces normally cycle on and off as your home reaches the thermostat’s preset temperature. However, a furnace might need replacement if it begins to turn on and off more (or less) often than it used to. Why? When essential components are failing, other components will be forced to work harder, causing changes in the usual cycle.
5. Furnace Doesn’t Heat The Home
Here’s a no-brainer. A furnace that doesn’t adequately heat your whole home is an obvious problem. If the cause is wear and tear that can’t be fixed, you’ll be better off replacing your furnace.
6. Furnace Produces Yellow Flames
A gas furnace that’s producing yellow flames, rather than the standard blue, probably has clogging in the flame sensor or the burner. This blockage interferes with furnace ventilation and may allow leakage of CO gas into your house. You may notice bad smells coming from your furnace too. Replacement of your natural gas furnace might be necessary to keep your family safe. Have this checked out by an HVAC service company right away.
Your Home Needs A Furnace That Works
No doubt about it, in Ottawa, you need a furnace that is well-running and safe. Rely on us for professional annual maintenance, or a gas furnace replacement, if it’s time. Here’s what one of our many satisfied customers has to say:
We were very happy with Ottawa Home Services. The whole process of buying our new furnace went smoothly. At the initial consultation, Wayne did a great job of explaining all the options to us and taking all the necessary measurements. The installation was done efficiently, with no mess left behind. OHS provides prompt and professional customer service—we highly recommend them.
Peter M
