How Old Are the Furnaces at Your Home?
November 24, 2017
If you are a homeowner, you need a functional furnace to keep your home warm during the cold winter months. According to CNET, a typical furnace lasts 15 to 30 years. Once your furnace is 15 years old, you should watch for signs your furnace needs to be replaced. If your heating bill has increased (yet you aren’t using more heat than usual), your furnace may need to be replaced.
If you have an old furnace heater, problems will become more frequent. You may start to smell unusual smells or hear unique sounds. According to Forbes Magazine, the best time to buy a furnace is during spring or summer. If you try to replace furnace units in the winter, you will find that furnace emergencies and an increased need for heat will drive up the price.
Don’t forget to ask the company whether they include furnace install services in your quoted price. When you decide to replace your furnace, be wary of trying to save money by choosing a refurbished furnace. According to HVAC Talk, you should buy refurbished furnaces only from a reputable store rather than from a private seller.
What started as a typical service inspection from the local heating and air conditioning company turned into something much more. When the service technician can upstairs and said that he had bad news, you were only mildly concerned. When he announced that you had cracked heat exchangers on both of your furnaces, however, he also announced that he had shut down both heaters. You could, he said, turn them back on again, but he strongly advised against it. The potential for carbon monoxide poisoning, he indicated was present.
The technician then asked if you wanted to get your spouse on the line so that he could explain the options to both of you at once.
Are There Quality Heating Companies Near Me Who Can Provide Emergency Installations?
You did not need to listen very long to know that there really was no other option than replacing both units. It was an expense that you were certainly not prepared for the week before Thanksgiving, but you could not ignore such a serious problem. Not during a week when the temperatures were dropping into the teens and you would have a house full of relatives. Fortunately, because you had a service contract with the company the technician assured you that if you made a decision by 9:00 am the next morning, you would have the new installation completed before your company arrives.
The talks quickly change to conversations about the difference between the top HVAC companies and the brands that they offer. You talk about variable speed blowers, modulating gas valve, and two stage heat options. Finding a way to have a furnace that uses the best programmable options so that it gives you the most efficient energy use, it turns our, is a combination that is accomplished with a combination of a two stage heat option and a model that uses a variable speed blower. The comfort specialist that you visited with indicated that a variable speed blower for the upstairs unit, even with the fireplace on, will mean that the upstairs bedroom will not get as cold because the air will constantly be circulating.
Are There Heating Companies Near Me That Offer Affordable Finance Options?
It should come as no surprise that all of these options and furnaces at the top efficiency ratings come with an expensive price tag. Finding a company that offers a high efficiency furnace with a finance plan can help you afford the best furnace that is available. It often means, however, that the best financing options are only available when you purchase the high end furnace offerings.
Consider these facts and figures about heating and cooling systems and the impact they have on the nation’s economy:
- On some of the top model furnaces, home owners can also make a decision about the kinds of filters that you might want to use. For instance, a less expensive one inch filter needs to be changed once a month, while a more expensive five inch filter only needs changed once every six months.
- Although the top price selections may come with a five year interest free option, lesser models can also come with 18 months no interest plans, with the first payment not needed until 30 days after installation.
- Energy efficiency can plummet by as much as 30% without a proper HVAC system working in tandem with a well-insulated home.
Can Heating Companies Near Me Solve My Current Problem?
If you are ending your year with an announcement that your furnaces have been officially condemned, you will likely face discussions about your energy bills, as well as conversations about replacing a 20 year old unit that is only 80% efficient and saving some money up front by just putting an 80% efficiency back in. You can save, however, save even more money in the long run if you install a 95% efficiency unit now. Making sure that the company you work with has a certified technician and installer on their team, as well as a 200 point check list inspection two weeks after installation means that you are working with a leading company. In fact, researching if you have top quality heating companies near me can help you feel confident about the HVAC investment that you are making.