Dealing with a failing furnace during a cold winter night can be frustrating to any homeowner. As the piece of equipment that uses the most energy in your home, you would expect your heating system to provide you with much-needed heat. But there are times when furnaces do say goodbye. But before they do so, they exhibit warning signs telling you they may need a replacement any time soon.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is a licensed heating company in Burnsville MN. For over forty years, we have been helping homeowners achieve the best home comfort. We can help you choose the right furnace in terms of type, size, and features to ensure you are getting ultimate comfort at the best possible prices.
Here are signs of a failing furnace.
Your home has poor indoor air quality.
One of the functions of your furnace is to help clean the air that circulates throughout your home. Its filter is responsible for removing dirt and debris before it enters your ducts, the system itself, and eventually your home.
An old, inefficient furnace compromises your home’s indoor air. It is less effective at filtering airborne contaminants such as dirt, dust, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, and mold spores. These contaminants trigger allergies and cause respiratory conditions.
Your home has become dry and dusty.
In addition to adding heat to your home, your furnace also does other things for you. For example, it helps regulate your home’s humidity levels, which is essential to your health. Proper humidity levels are necessary to feel comfortable and avoid the development of mold. In cold environments, humidity levels drop and cause all kinds of undesirable effects on your health and your home in general.
Your home typically pulls dry air from household items such as wood floors, furniture, musical instruments, and other wooden materials. It makes the air feel cooler than it is, so, to reach your desired comfort level, you would have to adjust the thermostat to a higher temperature setting. This results in higher energy costs and an overheating furnace.
Your furnace costs more to operate.
While high gas prices can significantly contribute to your overall heating costs, but inefficiency should not be disregarded. When a furnace is nearing the end of its life, it tends to work harder to keep your home warm and comfortable. As it ages, your heating system experiences a decline in performance, especially if it had not been regularly maintained.
Compare your utility bills from the same period last year and if you discover a hike in your costs without a reciprocal increase in use, an inefficient furnace can be the culprit.
Your furnace is prone to short cycling.
Short cycling takes place when a furnace turns itself on and off, which means that it’s trying hard to produce a consistent temperature throughout the home. Most of the time, short cycling is caused by one or more mechanical problems. Malfunctioning switches, overburdened 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 repeated, expensive repairs or if the problem is too severe, a total system replacement.
Your furnace causes repeated sickness in the family.
When a furnace gets old and is nearing the end of its lifespan, certain parts start to crack that leak dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide. Exposure to this toxic gas may result in undesirable health symptoms like headaches, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. Since opening windows to air out the house is not an option, you will need a professional HVAC technician to check your system and see if your furnace needs a repair or a replacement.
Need Help? Call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
If you notice any of these issues in your home, you may be faced with the inevitable replacement of your existing furnace. To help you gain a better understanding of your current situation, give us a call. We will provide you with pertinent information to guide you in making the right home comfort decision. We are your premier Shakopee furnace installation company serving you since 1974.