Signs Your Furnace is Dying, tom rostron

January 3, 2017

With winter finally upon us, many homeowners in Monmouth and Ocean County are paying closer attention to how their furnaces are operating. Some rest easy each night knowing that their HVAC equipment is operating properly, while others fall asleep to strange noises or encounter odd smells that shouldn’t be there.

These can be warning signs that something’s not right with your furnace, and possibly that it’s on its way out. If your furnace is dying, you’ll save yourself a number of headaches by being proactive.

Think something might be up with your furnace? Here are a four signs that it’s on its last legs.

Your Furnace is 15+ Years Old

Chances are that if you had a new furnace installed within the past few years, you likely don’t have much to worry about for a while. This can’t be expected to last, however, which is what a lot of people with older furnaces are currently experiencing. Most furnaces enjoy a lifespan of approximately 16-20 years, so if yours is 15 years old or older, it’s time to start entertaining the idea of a replacement.

Your Heating Bill Is Always Increasing

Have you noticed a steady increase in your home heating bill over the years? It may well be tied to the age of your furnace. As furnaces age, they tend to lose efficiency—sometimes to a very noticeable degree. No one wants to spend more than they should have to on utility bills, which is one of the main reasons people install new, high-efficiency furnaces.

There’s a Smell

Let’s face it—odd smells can be very unsettling. If these smells are along the lines of fuel, smoke or “burning” of any kind, your furnace may be in need of emergency repair. It could be as simple as a dirty air filter, but there could also be much more sinister things at play. The bottom line is that once you encounter a strange smell emanating from your furnace, it’s time to call Tom Rostron.

Your Furnace is Noisy

If your furnace makes strange and unexpected popping or banging noises, you may have come to the conclusion that it’s haunted. This probably isn’t the issue, though—it’s probably just getting old. Furnaces can begin to create unsettling noises as they age and attempt to keep up with heating your home. If this is happening, it won’t be long until you need new equipment.

If any of these sound familiar, preventative maintenance may be enough to save your current furnace or you may need to upgrade to a new, high-performance furnace.

Contact us to learn more about new furnaces or to schedule an appointment with one of our home heating specialists today.