Maintenance, Repair, or Replacement: What Does Your Furnace Need?

December 30, 2021

Now that winter has arrived and we’ve experienced some colder weather, you might be feeling a little bit concerned about the furnace in your home. Maybe the air quality in your home is not as good as it used to be. Or, maybe you’ve noticed your energy bills are much higher than they should be. Perhaps, you’re simply not as toasty as you’d like to be. No matter what the scenario – if your furnace isn’t keeping you comfortable, there could be a problem.

Of course, the best-case scenario is that your furnace may just need some maintenance or a minor repair. Unfortunately, it may need more extensive repairs, and if that’s the case, you might be wondering if it would make more sense to simply replace it. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the signs your furnace might be showing if it needs maintenance or repair, and we’ll talk about when it may be time to consider a replacement. Keep reading to learn more!

Signs Your Furnace Needs Maintenance

Let’s start off by saying that getting maintenance for your furnace on an annual basis is a good idea. The Department of Energy encourages heating equipment maintenance, indicating that proper maintenance is vital to efficient operation, and can help you save up to 10-25% in energy consumption. So, choosing an annual maintenance plan from a qualified expert is best practice when it comes to your heating system. However, if you haven’t had your system maintained in a while you might notice these signs that you need to call your HVAC contractor:

  • Your home isn’t as comfortable as you’d like. Whether you’ve noticed a decrease in comfort in certain areas or throughout, this is often a result of a poorly maintained system. There could be dirt or debris build-up that needs to be removed or a clogged filter.
  • You’ve noticed a decrease in the quality of air in your home. If you’re seeing particles dancing in the sunbeams, have noticed you need to dust more often, or your family is sniffling when the furnace kicks on, maintenance is very likely in order.
  • Your energy bills have increased. If you’ve noticed a spike in your energy bills for no apparent reason, it is likely that your furnace is having to work harder, and is using more energy to do so. Usually, this is a result of dirty, clogged filters and internal components.

Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair

While dusty air and higher energy bills often signal the need for a furnace tune-up, sometimes there is more going on than a maintenance call can remedy. If you’ve noticed any of the following, there is almost definitely something going on with your furnace, and you should call your HVAC contractor right away:

  • Screeching, banging, or grinding noises
  • Unusual, foul odors that smell like melting plastic or rubber
  • Your furnace keeps cycling on and off
  • Your furnace will not start

Please note, if you notice any smoke coming from your furnace, or if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, you should leave your home and call your fire department immediately. These are serious issues and you should not wait for repair services in these instances.

When it Might Be Time to Replace

Of course, this is the scenario nobody wants to think about – having to replace their furnace. Heating equipment is a costly investment in your home and with good reason. Not only does it need to be built to last and keep your family comfortable, but it also has to provide safe heating as well. Still, most homeowners like to weigh their options before purchasing a new system.

Factors you should take into consideration include:

  • How old is my furnace? Most furnaces last between 10-20 years, so if yours is getting up there in age, you might want to replace it. It actually can save you money in the long run, because today’s furnaces are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
  • How often has my furnace needed repairs? If you’ve got your HVAC contractor on speed dial, and it seems like you’ve had to have frequent repairs made in order to keep it running properly, then it might be time to consider a replacement.
  • How expensive are the repairs? If you’ve needed frequent repairs, the costs definitely begin to add up. And, if your system breaks down and it will need extensive repairs in order to get it back up and running, you will definitely want to weigh the costs of repair versus replacement, especially if your system is older and less efficient.

How can Family Danz help me get the furnace services I need?

At Family Danz, we take great pride in providing you with complete heating services, including furnace maintenance, repair, and replacement. We can give your furnace the check-up it needs to help determine if there is any cause for concern, and we can make sure it receives proper annual maintenance to help it last longer and operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. And, we’ll help you in the event you need repairs or replacement, too. If you have any concerns about your home’s furnace, give us a call today at (518) 427-8685 to find out how we can help meet your furnace needs this winter – no matter what they may be!
Contact Family Danz