Furnaces are people.  Sounds crazy, we know but they are!  Ok, they don’t have arms and legs and mortgages as people, but furnaces stop working for basically the same 3 COMMON REASONS people stop working:  Age, Neglect and Mechanical Failure.

You aren’t convinced that Furnaces are People yet?  Ok. Fair enough.  But here’s something to consider:

CAUSE #1 OLD AGE 

Furnaces have a life span just like people. On average, a Furnace lives anywhere between 15 to 20 years. You won’t live forever and neither will your furnace.   

Heartbreaking, eh?  We know but that’s the bottom line and the sooner we all accept it, the sooner the healing process can begin.  

If your Furnace friend is nearing the end of its life, it will try to tell you in its own way.  Some common warning signs to consider:

Weird Sounds and Smells

No furnace is entirely silent, but if you hear strange banging, popping, whining, or groaning noises from your furnace, it may be having trouble igniting, has a free belt, or has a worn-out portion that will soon break. If these warnings are not addressed in time, your furnace can stop working. 

Frequent Repairs

Furnace repairs tend to increase considerably in the last two years of its life. If frequent fixes are needed, and it breaks our hearts to have to tell you this but, chances are that your furnace doesn’t have much time left.  It’s time to start making arrangements…

Life Tip:  

Don’t delay the inevitable. 

Waiting until your current furnace dies before looking for a new one can force you to rush, and maybe not find the best deal.  

CAUSE #2 NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE 

It’s confession time!  Did you take the best possible care of your furnace?   Did you change your furnace filter every couple of months? Did you follow all the Manual Guidelines on routine cleaning and maintenance? 

It’s ok if you didn’t.  We understand. We aren’t judging. Just trying to help you understand what happened. 

The simple truth is neglected routine maintenance wears down important mechanical components over time. Air filters can get clogged by debris, decreasing a unit’s effectiveness and this clogging will impact major components of the furnace needs to run efficiently. 

Does your Furnace have Difficulty Kicking On or Staying On?

If your furnace requires a lengthy time to kick on, or it kicks on but it doesn’t stay on, a damaged thermostat, defective wiring, or a pilot mild ignition dilemma could be to blame. There could also be a trouble with the motor. 

Are your Heating Bills increasing?

If you have been noticing that your heating bills are going up, it is likely due to decreased furnace efficiency. This does happen over time (old age) but sometimes, the issue is the unit has gone without regular maintenance.

Life Tip:

Be Smart with your Money.  Instead of paying extra for your heating bills each and every month, you could be putting that hard-earned money towards buying a new furnace. 

 

CAUSE #3 Mechanical Failure or Malfunction

Your furnace woes could be caused by a number of things.  It could be the fan blower or loose parts.  Or maybe a defective thermostat or a dilemma with an intermittent pilot ignition, or even leaky ductwork.

Are you noticing Diminished Air Quality?

If you notice the air quality starting to decline in your home or if people in your household are getting sick more often, then a malfunctioning furnace is likely the culprit.

An old, defective furnace will not only circulate air in your home, but also dust, bacteria, and dirt. If a filter change does not solve the issue, then it may time for a new furnace.

Damage to the heat exchanger in your furnace can even lead to the leak of carbon monoxide which is no good for anyone in your home.

Life Tip:

Persistent smells of fuel around your furnace indicate a problem that should be addressed immediately. We mean it…IMMEDIATELY!

 

Our expert technicians know Furnaces inside and out. We can help diagnose, repair or replace your furnace.

 

Call us at 647-921-3810 or email us at syoudowitch@airinmotion.ca

Call Now Button