How will you know when it’s time to replace your current furnace?

Are you better off buying a new furnace, or paying to repair the one you have?

These are important questions for any homeowner in Canada. If you’re facing this dilemma, rest assured you’re not alone. Many homeowners have a difficult time identifying when it is time to begin thinking about furnace replacement. The best advice we can give is to be proactive, do your research while you have time now, and not to wait so long as to let the furnace completely shut down before buying a replacement. After all, the worst-case scenario is getting left out in the cold – literally!

Warning Signs

• You see a spike in your hydro or gas bill
• Strange noises are coming from the furnace
• Your family has been feeling flu-like symptoms, having frequent headaches, burning feeling in nose and eyes, or feeling nauseous (Should you experience these symptoms, air out your house, and immediately call a gas service technician… and please see a doctor as well)
• Your home is dry or dusty, and has a lack of moisture
• You find yourself constantly changing the settings on the thermostat to keep each room at a comfortable temperature.
• Your burner flame is yellow instead of blue
• The furnace is 10 years or older

If you’re not experiencing many of these symptoms – your furnace, that is, not you personally – you might have some time to go before a full replacement is in order.

What If It Is Time to Get a New Furnace?

If you see many of the items on that list taking place with your furnace, it’s probably time to get a new one. To be sure, you’ll want to do your homework before replacing a furnace.

Choosing a reputable company to replace your furnace is the first place to start. A good company will understand the importance of installing a furnace properly. A trustworthy company will have good standings on social media sites, consumer affairs office, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

An improperly installed furnace it can reduce efficiency up to 30 percent. A professional company will come out and size your home appropriately. They will also provide you with a written proposal with the furnace cost, as well as how much you will be saving on bills. Only take advice from heating & air conditioning experts.

• Don’t go with the lowest bidder
  Service calls are twice as likely to be related to poor installation as to defective equipment. The company or individual who offers the lowest bid often makes the biggest mistakes.
• Get a proposal (instead of a bid)
  Make sure you get a detailed, written proposal that outlines exactly what the service pro will and won’t do. They should list the manufacturer and model number of the proposed equipment as well as the cost of any plumbing, venting changes or electrical work required.
• Have a new thermostat installed professionally
  Furnaces and thermostats, just like cars, have gotten increasingly computerized. At Modern PURAIR, we feature the Nest Learning Thermostat. Read all about it here.
• ‘High’ vs. ‘very high’ efficiencies
  Higher efficiency means higher complexity. The more complex it is, the more expensive it is, and the more it will cost to fix when it breaks.
• Buy a reputable brand
  If you don’t recognize the brand, don’t trust what the contractor says about it. Doing your homework on this subject can save you pain later on.

While we don’t sell or repair furnaces, we at Modern PURAIR know plenty about them! We would be happy to answer any questions you might have about purchasing a new furnace or maintaining your existing furnace. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions about furnaces or other HVAC matters.

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