Ask anyone who lives north of Tennessee, ask anyone who lives in Pennsylvania what the most important piece of equipment for their home is during the cold months, and they’ll tell you it’s their furnace. The backbone of survival during the Winter is a strong heating system, a heating system that is powered by a reliable, steadfast, and well-producing furnace. But no matter how good your system is, eventually they all wear out and things start to go wrong. The important thing is catching the warning signs early before they get worse, and more expensive.
Below is a link to an article featuring in-depth advice and tips, but here’s our suggestions for important things to do and keep an eye out for.
- How old is your furnace? A good place to start is to compare your furnaces age to the national average. The average life expectancy of furnaces in homes today is between 16 and 20 years. If your furnace is close to this age or older, you should begin shopping. Shopping for a replacement furnace in an emergency does not allow time to make your best decision. Most people prefer to replace their furnace as a planned home improvement rather than a panic replacement when your furnace is faltering or failed. For starters, look at your furnace to see if you have a pilot light. If you do, it is almost certain to be over 25 years old!
- Gas & Electric Bills Going Up?
Rising gas and electric prices are not the only reason for high bills. Furnaces often lose their efficiency as they age especially if they have not been properly maintained. As a result your furnace may run longer to provide the same amount of heat. This will cause your gas & electric bills to go up. The money you pay the gas & electric company every month could be used to pay for new furnace.
- Does your thermostat keep you comfortable?
Do you feel that some rooms are too cold while others are too hot? Or are you always trying to adjust your thermostat to make your home more comfortable? This is a sign that your furnace lacks the ability to properly distribute the air to keep you comfortable in your home.
These are just a few of the things to look for and if you do experience these, or any of the others listed in the article, have your system looked at.