Nothing Lasts Forever….Not Even Your Furnace

With regular professional maintenance and a little bit of luck, your propane- or heating oil-fired furnace could last 12 to 15 years or more. But inevitably, furnace parts will wear down and efficiency will suffer – and if you wait too long, you will end up spending more money on furnace repairs and heating bills than you would on a heating equipment upgrade.

The big question is, what is “too long?”

To answer that question, you will have to be on the lookout for signs that your furnace is on its last legs; once you see them, you can make a well-informed upgrade decision for your Connecticut home.

Signs it is time to replace your furnace

Here are four key indications that the time to replace your furnace is drawing near:

• Age. Although many furnaces will continue to function into their third decade, that doesn’t mean it’s smart to keep them around another year; a heating equipment upgrade could very well pay for itself in just a few years based on efficiency improvements alone. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, strongly consider replacing it, especially if you notice any of the problems listed below.
• Poor performance. When your furnace doesn’t produce warm air the way it used to, despite regular maintenance and ongoing repairs, replacement could be your only viable option.
• Higher bills. If possible, compare your home heating costs this winter with your bills from the last few years (be sure to take the price of heating oil or propane into account). A steady increase in your bills could mean that the efficiency of your equipment is decreasing – a telltale sign that the end of your furnace’s lifespan is coming.
• More frequent repairs. If you notice that you are making more calls for service than usual the last couple of years, it could mean that you are having fundamental problems with your equipment that can’t be easily remedied with repairs; more than likely, it’s time for a heating system upgrade.

When shopping for a new furnace

One of the most important choices that you will make when it comes time to upgrade your home furnace is who you will buy it from. As with all significant purchases for your home, it pays to shop around – and to look not simply for the lowest price, but for the best value when it comes to hiring a heating contractor.

The heating contractor you choose should:

• Know how to properly size the furnace to your home
• Know how to integrate it properly into your existing ductwork and HVAC systems to ensure you get the best performance from your equipment
• Be licensed and insured
• Have access to top quality brands in a range of sizes, fuel types, efficiencies, and price points
• Warrantee all their work
• Have a thorough knowledge of government and manufacturer’s rebates
• Provide a free, written, no obligation estimate

The key, as always, is to educate yourself about your new furnace purchase; the more you know, the better choice you will make.

Ready for a furnace upgrade? We can help. Contact Jennings today for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a heating system replacement for your Connecticut home. Jennings Oil: Serving Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties since 1982!