When the temperature drops in New Mexico the last thing you want is your furnace to go out and your family to be left without any heat. This situation isn’t one you want to find yourself in. For starters not only will you have no heat in your home, but this almost always happens after hours, which means emergency, after hours repair costs. Not only this is this going to be more expensive, if it can’t be repaired and needs to be replaced you may be limited by your options based on what is available on short notice. Plus you’ll be rushed to make a decision on a large purchase for a furnace that will last you 15-20 years.
So, if your furnace is 15-20 years old it is probably living on borrowed time and for the reasons we mentioned above, it is always better to be proactive when it comes to replacing your furnace. There are some signs besides age that you should watch for to see if your furnace is on its last legs.
1. Your Furnace is 15 years or older
When your furnace reaches this age it may not stop working, but consider that by this age the heat exchanger has heated and cooled down approximately a million times in this life span. Consider that the heat exchanger is made of metal and it has expanded when heated and retracted when cooled over those 15 years. If you’re not sure how old your furnace is check for an inspection sticker, it should have the date it was inspected Over the years that wear and tear can take its toll and at this temperature fluctuation may cause the heat exchanger to crack over time. While this may not cause the furnace to shut down it can become an issue and may allow carbon monoxide to be released fro the furnace. That is why it is essential to get a furnace inspection each year, especially if you have an older furnace.
2. Your furnace needs frequent repairs
If your repair costs are adding up and you are furnace is consistently having problems its probably time to replace. Sometimes a furnace won’t break down and stop completely, it may continue to function but not to the best of its ability and overtime those repair costs can get to a point that it is better to replace the unit than continue to pump money into it. It is better to have a reliable safe unit.
3. Your energy costs are rising
If you have an older unit you may see your energy bills start to rise because the furnace is struggling to meet the demand in your home. You can always contact the New Mexico Gas Company to help you find identify why your energy costs are rising so quickly. They will probably recommend you have an HVAC professional inspect your furnace.
4. Faulty Installation
There are situations we come across during furnace repairs when we find that the furnace that has been installed incorrectly and there are code violations. Under these types of circumstances, it may be necessary to replace the furnace unit due to operational and safety concerns.
5. You have a standing pilot furnace
If your furnace still has a traditional pilot instead of a hot surface igniter it is probably older than 1991 and needs to be replaced. This excludes wall and floor furnaces.
Many times homeowners often overlook their furnaces until they have a problem. The bottom line is that because our heating and cooling systems aren’t tangible items we often take the comfort they provide for granted and they are usually ignored until they have a problem. But it’s important to understand that your heating system is the heart of your home and by being proactive you can avoid a lot of headaches and frustrations. Plus any safety issues or concerns.
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This guide was designed to provide you with valuable information when replacing your furnace. If you are considering replacing your furnace get all the information you need to make an informed decision.