For many southern California natives, anything under 60 degrees Fahrenheit is considered freezing. When temperatures get lower than that, most homes run their furnaces to feel warm and cozy. But there comes a time when every furnace will eventually need to be replaced for various reasons.
With decades of combined hands-on experience, our technicians at Monkey Wrench have seen similar and unique repair situations regarding furnaces. From installation to repairs, our technicians have helped hundreds of homeowners in Los Angeles and the surrounding area with heating challenges.
If you’re worried about furnace failure or seeking ways to prepare for unexpected problems with your heating system, here are five indicators that a home needs a furnace replacement.
- Old age
- Inconsistent or lack of heating
- Increased energy bills
- Frequent furnace repairs
- Strange noises or smells
After reading about these signs in-depth, you’ll gain valuable insight into the symptoms of a furnace that requires replacement. This knowledge can help inform your decision or encourage you to set aside a budget for when it’s time for a furnace replacement.
How Do I Know If My Furnace Needs to be Replaced?
The Furnace Is Old
As reliable as furnaces can be when providing heating, they aren’t meant to last forever. Some homes may have furnaces that are 20 or even 30 years old. It’s generally recommended to consider a furnace replacement once your current furnace reaches 10 to 15 years of service.
Furnaces experience plenty of wear and tear throughout their service life, even with proper maintenance. As they age, the parts that make up the furnace can begin to wear down. The burner assembly, blower motor, and ignitor can break down and lead to necessary repairs.
Older furnaces are also more likely to experience other signs in this article, such as inconsistent or lack of hot air.
Inconsistent or Lack of Hot Air
Homerunners power their furnaces on to maximize heating evenly throughout a home. Yet, when a furnace starts to experience mechanical failure, it can distribute warm air inconsistently or, in some cases, not provide any warmth at all.
Inconsistent heating could result in some areas of a home receiving or not receiving warm air. Furnaces contain complex parts that help generate warm air; if these parts are constantly breaking down, it may be best to replace them entirely.
Homeowners can attempt to remedy the problem by ensuring that they’re replacing their air filters seasonally and performing annual maintenance and tune-ups on the central heating system with the help of a certified technician.
As furnaces struggle to heat a home evenly, they will use up more power, which can drastically increase energy bills.
Increased Energy Bills
When homeowners track their utility usage month to month, they’ll notice an increase in energy bills if a bad furnace needs a replacement. Because of its poor working conditions, a bad furnace consumes more energy to fuel any heating. The extra fuel energy can drive up energy costs, and homeowners may end up overspending hundreds of dollars a year due to a bad furnace that needs a replacement.
Although there are electric-only furnaces, most central heating systems in southern California homes are powered by natural gas. Natural gas usage rates are cheaper than electricity. Still, when a furnace is in bad condition, it will require more natural gas to provide warm air that meets a set temperature.
Increasing energy costs can quickly drain a homeowner’s finances if they also have to pay for frequent repairs on a furnace that needs replacement.
Furnace Requires Frequent Repairs
If a furnace constantly needs recurring repairs, it may be best to replace it entirely. As a general rule of thumb, if repairs amount to 50% of the total cost of the furnace, finding a replacement might make more sense.
Common furnace repairs include some of the following issues.
- Bad blower motors
- Heat exchangers
- Limit switch
- Ignition system issues
These parts can experience mechanical failure or become worn or damaged. Even if these repairs occur while a furnace is under warranty, it may only cover the parts, not the labor, which becomes the homeowner’s responsibility.
One of the last and apparent signs that a furnace may need a replacement is strange noises or smells from the unit.
Strange Noises or Smells
Another indicator that a furnace might need to be replaced is if it’s constantly making unusual noises or giving off funky odors. While it’s normal for furnaces to make almost silent humming sounds while operating or make a whoosh noise when they start up or shut down, there are several noises it can make that may indicate there’s a problem with the unit.
Some common noises we’ve seen include,
- Rattling
- Banging
- Popping
- Screeching
- Squealing
These noises could be caused by factors such as part failure, ductwork problems, or the furnace’s age. Whatever the cause of the noise is, it could signal that it’s time to replace the furnace.
Strange smells are another strong indicator of an issue with the furnace. Homeowners should pay immediate attention to musty smells that could indicate bacteria growing in the furnace. Another bad odor homeowners should be aware of is a rotten egg smell, which could mean a gas leak in the furnace.
Regardless of the type of odor and its origin, any weird smells could mean there’s a severe issue with the furnace, and it may be best to replace it entirely with a new heating system.
Should I Replace the Furnace in My Home?
Several signs indicate that replacing a furnace is better than repairing it. A complete replacement may be more expensive than repairs. Still, a brand-new furnace offers homeowners peace of mind, knowing that it can efficiently provide warm air without causing stress, as an old or broken-down furnace may.
By understanding the various indicators that a home needs a furnace replacement, homeowners can prepare ahead or take action immediately so that their homes can remain cozy during cold weather.
At Monkey Wrench, we’ve helped install and maintain thousands of furnaces in homes across Los Angeles and the surrounding areas since 2007. Our technicians receive specialized training from some of the top furnace manufacturers to be up-to-date with the latest issues involving furnaces.
If you need a furnace replacement or are looking to prepare for a future installation, contact us using one of the buttons below. You can also book an appointment directly through our HVAC online scheduler.
Now that you know the most common signs a home needs a furnace replacement, check out this article that breaks down the pricing factors for a new furnace. The cost of a new furnace can vary, but learning about the factors that affect pricing can help you find the right furnace for your home.
