{"id":445,"date":"2022-09-26T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/?p=445"},"modified":"2025-04-30T10:08:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T14:08:21","slug":"do-you-need-to-install-new-furnace-before-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/heating-service\/do-you-need-to-install-new-furnace-before-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Need to Install a New Furnace Before Winter?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Old<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In our last post, we talked about the importance of scheduling heating maintenance<\/a> during the fall so you\u2019re prepared for the coming winter. Maintenance does have its limits, however. At some point, the furnace that warms your home and keeps your family safe during cold weather will move beyond where repairs and regular maintenance will do much good. Time for a new furnace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is this the fall when you decide to stop maintaining or repairing your furnace and instead invest in a new one? We\u2019ll look at some of the factors that can help you decide about a furnace replacement in Hillsboro, OH<\/a>. If you\u2019re unsure whether your furnace still has life left in it, consider our guide on when repairing your heater is no longer worth it<\/a> to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The age of the furnace<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The standard gas furnace can last around 15 years if it has regular maintenance. Electric furnaces can last 20 or more years. If your furnace is above its service life estimate, we strongly recommend having it replaced, even if it still seems to outwardly work well. The furnace will become less reliable, more prone to repairs, and more costly to run once it becomes too old. If your furnace is approaching the upper range of its service life, pay even closer attention to other warning signs that it\u2019s in decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uneven heating<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Does your furnace leave cold spots around your house when this wasn\u2019t a problem before? This is one of the biggest warning signs that a furnace is dying. It\u2019s losing its heating capacity so that it can provide warmth for the center of the house but can\u2019t reach the more distant rooms. If the furnace is already old, uneven heating is a good reason to get a new furnace. For additional insights, read about why your furnace may not evenly heat your house<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another sign of uneven heating can be increased noise levels from your furnace. A struggling furnace may make banging, rattling, or whistling noises as it attempts to push air through the system. This not only indicates declining performance but also potential mechanical issues that could hasten the need for a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corrosion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a serious problem with gas furnaces. With time, the reaction between combustion gas and the metal of the heat exchanger can cause corrosion, and this can weaken the heat exchanger to the point where it cracks and allows toxic gas into the home. Corrosion is also generally a sign a furnace is far too old. We advise having a replacement done as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising heating costs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep a watch on how much you pay on your energy bills (electric or gas) each winter. This way you can track if you\u2019ve started to pay more. If you\u2019ve noticed an increase in heating costs and it isn\u2019t due to a change in energy prices or greater use of the furnace, then it\u2019s worthwhile having professionals come to inspect the furnace to find out if it\u2019s failing. You might also consider our tips for saving money this winter with your heating system<\/a> to help manage costs effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re unsure whether rising costs are tied to furnace inefficiency or other factors, consider scheduling an energy audit. This process evaluates your home\u2019s overall energy usage and identifies whether the furnace or other systems are contributing to the spike in expenses. Addressing issues highlighted by an audit can provide clarity and ensure your replacement decision is well-informed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High energy bills may also be a sign that your furnace\u2019s efficiency rating has become outdated. Modern furnaces with advanced features, such as variable-speed motors and sealed combustion, can significantly reduce energy consumption compared to older models, making replacement an investment that pays off in lower utility costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expensive repairs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can use some rules of thumb to gauge whether a specific repair is worth the cost or if it\u2019s better to replace the furnace. One is the \u201cRule of 5,000.\u201d Take the age of the furnace in years and multiply it by the estimated cost of the repair. Is the result greater than 5,000? If so, it\u2019s more cost-effective to put that money into purchasing a new furnace. We also don\u2019t recommend paying for any repair that\u2019s more than half the price of a replacement furnace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth evaluating the availability of replacement parts for your current furnace. As models age, manufacturers may discontinue certain components, making future repairs more challenging and costly. If you\u2019re already struggling to source parts, it\u2019s a strong indicator that upgrading to a new furnace is the smarter long-term choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shafer Heating & Cooling, LLC: You are just one call away from the comfort and savings you deserve!<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is this the fall when you decide to stop maintaining or repairing your furnace and instead invest in a new one?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[76],"tags":[91,50,15,89],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":950,"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445\/revisions\/950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shaferhvac.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}