If your furnace 15-20 years old, it’s already reached its average lifespan.  If it’s even older and still working fine, consider yourself among the fortunate few.

But here’s the thing:  no matter how new or old it might be, it won’t last forever.  So, is now the time to consider replacing it?  It could be if you notice one or more of these symptoms of an aging furnace, or at least one in need of professional troubleshooting:

Gas & Electric Bills Going Up?
Rising gas and electric prices are not the only reason for high bills. Furnaces often lose their efficiency as they age, especially if they have not been properly maintained.

Any Furnace Repairs in the last 2 years?
Furnaces are like cars – the more your repair them, the more they need to be repaired. And once all that starts, it doesn’t take long before you’re spending $500 or more just to buy yourself a little more time.  At some time, it’s a good idea to take a step back and reevaluate whether you’re throwing good money after bad.

How’s your thermostat working?
If you raise your thermostat from 66 to 72 degrees, and your house doesn’t warm up, what are you most likely to assume?  Right – that something is wrong with your thermostat.  Well, that’s not always the case, and that’s precisely why Absolute Air heating professionals always check the thermostat while diagnosing a home heating problem.

Is your furnace making strange noises?
An old furnace can sound like a one-person band, just not as melodious.  The point is, furnaces are designed to run quietly.  If yours isn’t, it behooves you to find out why before the problem – whatever it might be – gets any worse.

Not feeling feel?
The older the furnace and its air duct system, the greater the potential for cracks in heat exchanger and in your ductwork.  A cracked heat exchanger is the more serious of the two problems as it can lead to a poisonous carbon monoxide leak.  Cracked and leaking ducts, on the other hand, cause your furnace to work harder which, in turn, puts more wear and tear on it.  Holes in your air ducts also allow dirt and other pollutants inside the ducts which then get pushed into your living spaces where you’re all too likely to breathe them in.  So, if any family member is complaining of chronic flu-like symptoms or having an especially difficult time with their allergies or asthma, it’s a good idea to contact Absolute Air to see if your heating system is contributing to or causing the problem

Remember:  a loss of heat isn’t the only reason to consider replacing your furnace.  High utility bills you can’t control, chronic flu-like symptoms, greater dust accumulation, and a noisy furnace that keeps you up at night might also be your furnace’s way of saying “enough is enough.”  Looking for answers you can live with, comfortably and affordably?  Contact Absolute Air today and give you the full benefit of our training and expertise.