When Do I Know It’s Time to Buy a New Furnace?

It’s easy to moan when you decide that a major appliance or home system needs replacing. After all, these are expensive investments and probably not your favorite way to spend your hard-earned money. Unfortunately, there’s often not a clear-cut message, short of an appliance completely breaking down, that definitively indicates it’s time to buy a new model.

If you’re struggling with the question of whether or not to buy a new furnace in Myrtle Beach, our professionals are here to help. Our Coastal Air + Refrigeration team has years of experience with a wide selection of furnace makes and models. Here are some warning signs it may be time to start saving for a new furnace.

Your Furnace Is Getting Long in the Tooth

Yes, age gets all of us, doesn’t it? Furnaces are typically built to last about 15 to 20 years with regular usage and maintenance. Obviously, if you find yourself away on business trips or spend the winters in a warmer climate, the life span of your heating system may exceed that range. On the other hand, if you and your family are downright homebodies in a geographic location with longer winters, you may be replacing your furnace more frequently.

However, if you have an older furnace, it’s definitely one sign that you may want to consider buying a new one sooner rather than later. At the very least, invest the time to do some research so you don’t have to be pressured into a snap decision if your older heating system suddenly gives up the ghost.

You Find Yourself Cold Even With the Heat On

Heat is expensive, and if you’re paying for it, you certainly want to be comfortable. It’s understandable if your home is on the cooler side, because you’re trying to conserve energy by keeping your thermostat low. However, if you are choosing an average heating temperature that used to be comfortable and you suddenly find your home cold or unevenly heated, it may signal a problem.

In some cases, repairs and maintenance can resolve that issue. However, this may be a sign, in combination with the others in this article, which can show you that your furnace may not be doing as well as it used to do.

Your Bills Keep Getting Higher

If your energy bills suddenly take a big turn upward, check out your utility rates and consider your current South Carolina weather compared to past years first. If these items have remained relatively constant, you may want to blame your furnace. 

Older furnaces are notoriously inefficient, especially when compared with the newest models. Check out ENERGY STAR® ratings of the newest models to learn what you can gain in terms of efficiency.

Are you finding yourself calling your furnace repair professional more than once a year? Repair calls can build up and be a significant investment if you’re continually replacing parts of an old furnace.

Remember that even though you’ll have to spend a significant amount of money on a brand-new furnace and installation, you’ll be saving money on an ongoing basis in lower utility bills—and hopefully eliminating repair bills in the foreseeable future. Be sure to consider that in your decision equation.

You Notice Unusual Behavior

By being aware of the typical sounds, looks, and smells of your furnace, you can be clued in more quickly if something isn’t quite right. Listen for grinding, squeaking, or banging noises coming from your furnace or be aware of unusual odors. The smell of rotten eggs can indicate a dangerous carbon monoxide leak and should be reported immediately for you and your family’s safety.

There’s a Drop in Air Quality

If you notice your home begins to feel dustier or your indoor air quality seems to be deteriorating, this can indicate a furnace problem. Besides providing heat to your home, a furnace should also help stabilize air quality. 

In some cases, you may need a humidifier in the dry winter months or an air purifier if you’re addressing allergy or asthma problems. However, checking into your furnace is another avenue to take as well.