Everything in your home has a shelf life—even your heater. If you’ve been having trouble with your furnace for the past few years, it can be difficult to discern whether you should have it repaired or replaced.
Fortunately, there are some telltale signs it’s time to get a new heater. Replacing your heater might not be something you want to do, but it will likely be worth it in the end.
Here is how you’ll know when to replace your heater.
Age
This is the number one factor in deciding whether you should replace your heater. Each furnace has a lifespan of about 15 to 20 years.
If you’ve recently bought a house and are having trouble with the furnace, you can check the owner’s manual or the model number to determine how old it is and whether you need to replace it.
Soaring energy costs
Everyone wants to conserve energy, both for the good of the environment and for their checkbook. If you find that your energy costs are rising quickly over time, the problem might be your furnace.
An improperly-working furnace has to work harder than it normally would to achieve the same temperature, lowering its efficiency while raising your energy costs.
Loud noises
While your furnace should make some noise, certain sounds can be legitimate cause for concern. If your furnace is making popping, humming, rattling or screeching sounds, you’ll want to have it looked at to see whether you need to replace it or not.
Popping can be due to temperature changes; rattling could be equipment or ducts that are loose; and screeching may be a damaged component like a blower motor, belt or pulley.
Uneven heating
The rooms in your home should be heated uniformly—that is, the temperature should be just about the same in every part of the room, and each individual room should be the same temperature.
But if you notice that temperatures are fluctuating within each room and between each room, the issue could be caused by your furnace, and you may need a new one.
Visible wear and tear
A big conundrum with HVAC systems is you can’t physically see the problems with them. You can usually only hear or feel them.
But sometimes you can see signs of wear and tear on your furnace, such as rusting or cracking. These are obviously significant problems and can develop over long periods of time, serving as indications that it might be time to invest in a new furnace.
Numerous repairs
If you find yourself constantly having to call repair technicians to come to your home to fix your furnace, that could be a sign that it’s time to get a new heater.
You can look at your repair bills over the past two years—if you’ve called repair technicians more times than most, that’s probably a good indication that it’s time to start talking to experts about replacing your heater.
Call for a consultation today
Before you know it, winter will be upon us, which means it’s imperative that you have a properly-working furnace. To discuss your furnace, or if you want a checkup, give us a call at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We can cover anything from inspections and repairs to maintenance and installation—all with high-quality brands and top-notch service.
Unless you work in the HVAC industry, you probably don’t think much about the future of HVAC—but the new innovations that are emerging will be exciting for everyone. Whether you want to save money on your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint or both, these new technologies are sure to make an impact.
Here are some of the most interesting HVAC developments to watch:
- Ice-powered air conditioning: Why cool down hot air when you can start with cold air? One California-based company has created an air conditioner that freezes water inside a tank overnight. In the morning, when the air conditioner comes on, it blows over the ice to cool down the building. After the ice has melted, the traditional method of blowing air over cold condenser coils takes over.
- Thermally-driven air conditioning: Some companies are starting to manufacture air conditioners powered by solar energy, wind and even natural gas. If your home is already outfitted with solar panels, this could be a great opportunity to harness renewable energy and stay cool at the same time.
- Movement-activated air conditioners: Constantly cooling down your home—even when you’re not home—costs a lot of money. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint while staying comfortable, movement-activated air conditioners can help cut down on bills. You’ll be able to concentrate your air conditioning only in the rooms that are being used. No word on whether that means you’ll have to occasionally get up from your summertime Netflix binge, though.
- Dual fuel heat pumps: If you have access to both gas and electricity, dual fuel heat pumps can help keep you warm all winter long—and save money in the process. The gas portion of the pump runs when temperatures are extra low, then switches to electricity as soon as the temperature is warm enough. This saves money by using the cheapest possible energy at any given time.
- Computer-harnessed heat: Have you ever noticed how your laptops and other electronics get hot when they run? Some companies are trying to harness this heat to warm up homes and offices, as well as cool down server rooms.
- Geothermal heat pumps: Geothermal heat pumps use the naturally occurring heat underground to heat both your home and your hot water supply, saving you money and energy.
- Fully automated homes: With automation becoming increasingly popular, many experts predict that HVAC systems will become another part of our fully automated homes.
- App-driven heating and cooling: You might be familiar with smart thermostats like Nest, which allow you to control your home’s heating and cooling from anywhere with an internet connection. Look for more companies to jump on the bandwagon—app-driven thermostats will definitely become more common in the future.
If you’re looking for the latest innovations in HVAC technology, we can help. Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is dedicated to bringing you the future of HVAC—or simply ensuring that your existing system runs well. Reach out to us today to get started with a maintenance appointment!
Working with your HVAC system is a good idea no matter the time of year, but the summertime is usually when people are the most grateful to have a system that’s running smoothly. Air conditioning is a modern convenience that can really improve our quality of life, and HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO are ready to do what needs to be done to make sure your system is in good working order. Believe it or not, the summertime can also be a great time to make sure your heating components will be up to the task when winter rolls around.
Below are some easy maintenance tips, put together by our experienced team of HVAC pros, that you can follow to make sure your HVAC system is providing comfort year-round:
- Check the airflow: Any HVAC system is going to be judged, first and foremost, by the amount and quality of the airflow it produces. HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO are unanimous in recommending that customers help keep the air moving smoothly by changing their air filters regularly—every one to two months, depending on system use, household size, pets and other factors.
- Watch the landscaping: Exterior components of HVAC units are often situated in areas near landscaping, which can create a problem or two for homeowners. For starters, items like grass clippings and mulch can work their way into condenser units. Try to mitigate these concerns by giving outdoor HVAC equipment a wide berth when cutting the grass and by trimming flowers and shrubs near these units. This will help stop leaves and sticks from winding up inside and gumming up the works.
- Reprogram the thermostat: When summer months change your family’s schedule, it’s time to take another look at the thermostat. Later sunsets can mean later bedtimes, for example, which means that you can tweak the settings on your thermostat accordingly to increase comfort and save money for your entire family. Summer activities and vacations can also keep you out of the house for extended periods, meaning there’s no reason to run the HVAC at normal levels.
- Consider a dehumidifier: Even though air conditioning works by removing moisture from the air, you can supplement this with a dehumidifier. HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO agree that a dehumidifier can go a long way towards increasing the comfort of your family during the muggy summer months.
- Get a tune-up: One final option you should consider is having your system tuned up by a qualified HVAC service technician from Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. Our team can bring a fresh set of eyes to any concern while also working to make sure your HVAC runs smoothly for the next year (and beyond).
There are a lot of DIY measures you can perform to prolong the life of your HVAC system and ensure it’s working at peak efficiency, but we recommend you also give Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling a call so we can provide a professional perspective. Let us put our two decades of experience to work for you—call us today to schedule service!
The title might not make sense at first glance—why do you need to worry about your heating system during the hot months of summer? The reality is that this is actually the perfect time to look into the condition of your heater.
Your HVAC system is an important part of your home’s overall structure and ecosystem, so paying close attention to the whole system year-round is necessary. If you only think about it when you need it, you’re going to be paying higher prices during periods of high demand. Trust us—plenty of people are desperate to get a service technician when they click on the furnace in November and nothing happens. You’re much better off planning ahead, and HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO are ready to help you address maintenance and repair issues with your heater, even during the summertime.
Give yourself a break down the road
As we discussed above, the best reason to service your heating system during the warmer months is that plenty of people don’t do this. When you really need the heat, you’ll be kicking yourself as you get busy signals at HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO when everyone seems to be needing this heating service all at once. It’s much better to plan ahead because you can rest assured that a technician will arrive with plenty of time to fully assess, inspect and repair your system.
Keeping these logistical concerns in mind might seem a bit odd to customers, but something else that might sweeten the pot is that many companies provide coupons or other deals during these less-busy months to incentivize early action.
Nip problems in the bud
If you’re calling in the pros from Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to take a look at your heating system in the summertime, then you’re making a smart move that could pay off financially as well. Over the course of our 20-plus years in business, we’ve found that these summer inspections can be some of the most beneficial in catching early problems with heating systems. All HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO know that you’re far better off working to fix a small problem now than dealing with a larger problem later, so take the initiative and work with a professional team that can help you identify and address issues before they start causing real trouble.
Safety first
The buildup of dust and the development of gas leaks can be issues for heating systems, and these can cause safety concerns for our customers. It’s smart to schedule regular inspections and maintenance so you can rest easy knowing professional HVAC technicians have cleaned and assessed your unit and ensured that everything is in safe working order.
Performing maintenance on a heater in summertime can seem counterintuitive, but in reality these “off months” are the best time to bring in the pros. Working with heaters in the summertime gives HVAC companies in St. Louis, MO the time and space they need to perform comprehensive inspections and repairs that can save you time, money and heartache down the road. Get in touch with Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to schedule your appointment.
