During frigid Denver winters, there is nothing quite as comforting as entering a warm home. However, as your furnace ages, it could start experiencing more frequent issues, reducing indoor comfort levels.
Regardless of how well you maintain your current heating system, it will eventually stop working. As such, many homeowners wonder, “Should you replace a furnace before it breaks?” In this blog, we’ll discuss the different factors impacting furnace lifespan and how to identify signs of an impending breakdown.
When you’re ready to upgrade your indoor heating capacity, call the top-rated furnace replacement experts in Denver from JC Mechanical. Our highly-trained HVAC experts use the best tools and techniques to restore your indoor comfort. Call today to schedule a high-quality furnace replacement.
Average Furnace Lifespan
Both furnaces and boilers have an average life expectancy of about 15 to 20 years. However, that doesn’t mean you can always expect your system to last this long.
Every furnace’s lifespan differs depending on various factors, which we explain in more detail below. Irrespective of these factors, a furnace can break down at any time from serious disrepair.
While random breakdowns are rare, understanding the signs of impending furnace failure can help replace your unit in time. After all, the last thing you want is dysfunctional heating during the winter.
Factors Impacting Furnace Performance
Every furnace’s lifespan depends on the factors impacting its workload. Remaining conscious of these operating constraints can explain why your furnace tends to experience more issues than your neighbor’s system.
The top factors impacting long-term furnace performance include:
- Frequency of use
- Air filter thickness
- Minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of air filters
- Pets in your home
- Typical home occupancy
- Age, make, and model of your system
When professionals arrive for maintenance, repairs, or replacements, providing information about these factors enables better repair work.
Signs Your Furnace Is Approaching a Breakdown
When asking, “Should you replace a furnace before it breaks?” it’s essential to know the signs of an impending breakdown. These symptoms offer the best and only clue that you might need to schedule HVAC professionals for a replacement sooner than expected. Below are the top signs of an impending furnace breakdown.
System Age
Since most furnaces last about 15 to 20 years, remaining aware of system age provides important clues as to the potential for a breakdown. Any system reaching its life expectancy will show some signs of decline. However, units can experience increasingly frequent repair issues starting around 12 to 13 years of use.
Decreased Heating Capacity
Your furnace’s heating capacity is its ability to warm every room in your home equally. If you notice problems with inconsistent cycling, uneven heating, or no warm air coming from your system, your furnace may be approaching a breakdown.
Lower Energy Efficiency
Whether you have a gas, electric, or oil furnace, all these systems utilize electricity to power certain functions. As such, your unit’s energy efficiency directly correlates to its ability to achieve your desired temperature in a reasonable timeframe.
Units with reduced energy efficiency won’t heat your home quickly. As a furnace’s energy use becomes increasingly inefficient, it may take hours to heat your home at all. Monitoring your furnace’s energy efficiency helps you determine if it’s time to replace it.
Increasing Energy Bills
Along with decreasing energy efficiency, an expiring furnace will start costing you much more. Rising utility costs provide an early indication that you’re due for a heating system replacement. While you might worry about the high costs of a system replacement, upgrading your furnace can lead to lower energy bills and long-term savings.
More Frequent and Expensive Repairs
As a system starts to decline, repair issues can come up much more frequently. Even worse, repairs will likely get more complex and costly as the condition of your furnace worsens. Pay attention to the frequency and rising repair costs as your system ages.
Yellow Flames
Healthy gas furnaces blow crisp, blue flames, which indicate a healthy heat exchanger and gas line. If you notice yellow flames, call professionals immediately.
This sign of disrepair can indicate anything from damaged heat exchangers to dangerous carbon monoxide leaks. It might also reveal that your furnace is due for a replacement.
Strange Noises or Odors During Operation
Any home comfort system that exhibits strange noises or odors during operation could be falling into serious disrepair. For furnaces, gaseous smells or clanking, hissing, and clicking during operation provide important clues about the state of your system. Enlist experts for a replacement when you notice these signs.
Best Time for a Furnace Replacement
If you’re asking, “Should you replace a furnace before it breaks?” you might also be curious about the best time to replace your system. While furnace breakdowns can occur suddenly, the summer usually offers the best time for scheduled replacements. At this point, you have the most time to calibrate and acclimate your system before the colder months of the year.
Furnaces that expire at the end of winter could also receive a spring replacement. That way, you’re already prepared for the next cold season.
The Importance of Furnace Maintenance
Many homeowners wonder whether the costs of furnace maintenance reap noticeable benefits in system operation. In fact, furnace maintenance gives your system the best chance at maximizing lifespan, enabling optimal performance, and avoiding an untimely breakdown. Schedule top-rated experts from JC Mechanical for seasonal furnace maintenance today.
Replace Your Furnace With Top-Rated HVAC Experts From JC Mechanical
Even if you know that turning your thermostat settings up yields warmed indoor temperatures, you may still be asking, “What does a furnace do to achieve indoor climate control?” Learning about the functions of your furnace can help you avoid unnecessary repair issues.
Top-rated professionals from JC Mechanical offer high-quality furnace maintenance services to keep your home warm and comfortable throughout the year. Our diverse financing options ensure that every homeowner can get the HVAC services they need.
So, should you replace a furnace before it breaks? Call (720) 372-0944 and consult HVAC professionals from JC Mechanical on your furnace replacement options.
