Do I Need a New Furnace If…?

September 20, 2013

Many of our customers at Rick’s Heating & Cooling approach us with questions when it comes to their Ohio home’s heating systems—especially as colder weather begins to approach Hamilton and the Cincinnati area.

Our heating and cooling experts have pulled together (and answered!) all the questions they’ve recently received from your Hamilton, Ohio neighbors regarding the need for a new furnace. A new furnace installation is important to schedule before the winter months—that’s when you most rely on your heating system to keep your home warm.

Don’t see your furnace installation concern here? Contact us at 513-899-6005 and we can help you with all your heating and cooling needs!

Do I Need a New Furnace If My Furnace is Old?

If your furnace is more than 15 to 20 years old, it’s time for a furnace replacement. Older furnaces are not as efficient—meaning you are probably spending more on your utility bills than homes with newer models. Newer gas furnaces are the most efficient type of furnaces because most of them are 85 percent efficient or higher—meaning 85 percent of the fuel it burns goes straight to heating your Hamilton home!

If you wait for your older furnace to quit on you before you replace it, you may find yourself rushing to replace it on a colder winter day. Emergency shopping for a furnace lends little time to make the best decision on make, model, and efficiency. If you replace your furnace as a planned home improvement, the situation is much less stressful.

Find out more about installing energy efficient gas furnaces »

Do I Need a New Furnace If My Heating Bills Keep Increasing?

Yes—this is a major warning sign that your old furnace is losing efficiency. A new furnace is a big investment, but all newer models have great energy efficiency ratings that can save you money in the long-run. Don’t just blame the rising cost of electricity and gas—your low-efficiency furnace may need to run longer to heat your home now.

Do I Need a New Furnace Instead of Expensive Repairs?

If you are constantly scheduling furnace repairs with a local HVAC company, like Rick’s Heating & Cooling, you could be wasting money on a heating unit that will need to be replaced soon anyway. The cost of continual repairs on your old furnace can add up to what would have been the purchase of a brand new unit!

With older furnaces, too, parts and replacement pieces may take longer to find and fix—that could mean frigid Ohio nights for your family while you’re waiting for a part to come in.

Do I Need a New Furnace If There Are Loud Noises Coming From My Furnace?

Any banging, popping, rattling, squealing, or other loud noise you may hear from your furnace is another sign that you need to call a professional Hamilton HVAC company for a furnace replacement. Furnaces begin to make these noises as they get older and start to break down—scheduling a new furnace installation while you have time (and warmer days) is crucial.

Do I Need a New Furnace If My Burner Flame Is Yellow?

YES! If your burner flame is yellow, that could be a dangerous sign that carbon monoxide (which is poisonous) is being created in your heating unit. If your furnace is producing carbon monoxide, it’s extremely important to get it replaced with a new unit before you have your furnace running all day and night to warm your home.