If your gas furnace is more than 15 years old, it’s time to consider whether you need to replace it. The average service life for a gas furnace is 18 years, but some fail after as few as 15 years, while others are still running at 30 years. Key factors affecting service life are wear and tear and regular maintenance.
Wear and Tear
- Many homes in northwest Arkansas don’t have a basement and as a result, the furnace may be in a place that is damp or exposed to adverse weather, which could increase the likelihood of corrosion.
- The chimney and ducting may be weathered and in poor condition.
- Dust and dirt can accumulate and clog filters, blowers and electrical equipment.
Although winters in our area are generally mild, summers are hot, wet and humid, and this accelerates wear on tear on exposed equipment. (Plus, with the unpredictable weather in recent years, we can get some pretty wild winter weather.)
Regular Maintenance
- Do you regularly clean the filters? A blocked filter reduces airflow, causing the burner to cycle unnecessarily. This leads to clogging.
- Is the burner periodically serviced by a technician? If this is not done and the burner goes out of adjustment, you may get poor combustion leading to damage of critical components.
- Do you regularly clean dust, dirt, and debris away from the blower housing and ducting?
- Have you had corrosion and other damage repaired?
Regular maintenance of your gas furnace goes a long way toward lengthening its life, and a maintenance contract is one way of ensuring that this is done on a schedule.
Signs of Trouble
There are several telltale signs that indicate your heating equipment may be past its prime:
- Frequent breakdowns
- Continual cycling of the burner
- Strange banging noises indicating burner problems
- Dank musty smell caused by mold
- Burning smells indicating electrical problems or dust accumulation.
If you are experiencing these problems, your gas furnace may need replacement, but before you decide, ask a technician to inspect it and also consider getting a second opinion so you understand all of your options
Contact Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal for a thorough inspection and evaluation of your furnace. Based in Springdale, our highly trained staff covers northwest Arkansas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about gas furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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