Time to Replace Your Old Furnace?

It's better to plan for replacing your furnace rather than have it come as a surprise. The best way to monitor your furnace's condition and performance is to have it serviced annually, according to Kevin Comerford, President of Service Champions, a Diamond Certified company. A professional heating contractor will do a precision tune-up and cleaning consisting of 21 procedures. This will improve your furnace's efficiency and safety.

Mr. Comerford says the average life expectancy of a well-maintained furnace is 15 to 20 years, but as with everything, there are exceptions. Generally, after about 15 years, the metal inside a furnace, particularly the heat exchanger, gets fatigued. The metal may crack, which may in turn cause the furnace to emit carbon monoxide into your home. The good news is that newer furnaces are more energy efficient than the old ones, with some reducing heating bills by 30 to 40% every year.