How to Spot a Furnace that's Due for a Replacement

Winter is almost over, but the temperatures are still pretty low. Therefore, you still have to run your furnace to maintain your comfort at home. However, when your furnace fails to perform its task effectively, it can cause inconvenience and discomfort. A failing furnace even during late winter is never a good thing.

On the bright side, a furnace exhibits warning signs when it’s nearing the end of its lifespan. These indications will help you make a decision when it’s time to get a new heating system.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your leading heating company in Circle Pines MN. We can help you find out whether your furnace needs to be replaced. We can also help you choose the right furnace size to ensure you get maximum comfort at the lowest possible costs.

Here are some warning signs of a deteriorating furnace.

Old Age

An underperforming furnace can be attributed to its actual age. Older systems tend to lose their efficiency due to wear and tear — this happens to any appliance. While proper maintenance does help extend the life of a furnace, you still need to prepare for the reality that at some point, your unit, can no longer provide your home’s heating needs. Also, as furnaces get older, replacement parts become more expensive and harder to find.

Excessive Operational Costs

As mentioned earlier, an aging furnace loses its efficiency, which means it consumes more energy to perform its task. This can be attributed to the old parts that have been working for many years and are no longer as efficient.

A professional maintenance schedule and the regular replacement of filters may help extend its life but there’s little you can do to increase its energy-efficiency. On the other hand, a new, more energy-efficient furnace can provide your heating needs without having to consume too much energy.

Inconsistent Heating

A failing furnace can no longer evenly distribute the heated air throughout your home. If there are areas in your house that are considerably colder than the others, your furnace may lack the heating power to suffice your heating needs.

Repeated Illness Symptoms

Believe it or not, your furnace isn’t only responsible for keeping you warm on a cold night. It also contributes to your family’s health. Old, inefficient furnaces are notorious for leaking carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas. When you inhale this gas in small doses, it can cause headaches, weakness, dizziness, confusion, and blurred vision. But if you breathe in carbon monoxide in high concentrations, the results can be fatal.

Airing out carbon monoxide may help, but it’s best to contact a qualified technician to permanently deal with this problem.

Constant Short Cycling

Short cycling happens when a furnace turns itself on and off, which means that it’s trying hard to produce a consistent temperature in your home. Most of the time, this cycling is caused by one or more mechanical problems. Faulty switches, overworked blower fans, and poor fuel mixes in the unit are just some of the things that can cause a furnace to turn itself on and off. This issue ultimately leads to costly repairs or a replacement if the problem is too severe.

A Weak Pilot Flame

Your furnace’s pilot light should have a solid blue flame. But when it’s yellow, weak, and flickering, it indicates that the gas is not burned properly. It can also mean carbon monoxide is not released from the system safely. A yellow pilot light may be due to dirty or partially blocked systems. That’s why it is recommended to have a heating professional come and check your furnace.

Unusually Loud Noises

Producing some noise while a furnace is running is normal. But if it creates loud, strange noises, it can mean there is something wrong with the system. For example, popping sounds may be due to a delayed rough ignition, filthy burners or a loose and dirty filter getting pulled against its frame, or a loose blower door. If you hear a banging noise, it may be due to flabby ductwork, loose screws, or sheet metal. It may also mean the blower motor is imbalanced.

Dealing with an Old Furnace? Call Four Seasons Air Specialists

Should you need help determining your need for a new furnace, give us a call. We are your reliable Shoreview furnace repair and installation company serving you since 1974.