Do you need to replace your oil or natural gas furnace?

We can help you find out! And, you can trust Burke Energy for any furnace replacement services and repairs.

Your furnace is one of the most important pieces of equipment, and one of the biggest investments, in your home. That’s why it is important to keep track of how efficiently and effectively your furnace is running. You need to know when to replace your furnace so you don’t end up spending too much on repair costs, or risking your family’s safety. You want a furnace that is energy-efficient and safe, not one that heats the home while using large amounts of energy, or even endangering indoor air quality.

How do you know when it’s time to consider getting a new furnace?

If your oil or natural gas furnace is 12 years old or younger and has been properly maintained, you shouldn’t have to think about replacing it. Instead, spend some time and money to improve the energy-efficiency of your home and continue performing regular, proper maintenance of your furnace to ensure it continues to last.

“Warning Signs” of a failing furnace

It is important to look out for the warning signs that indicate that your furnace may be faltering. You don’t want to find out when it’s too late, because a cold, snowy winter night with a failing furnace is no fun. It pays to be prepared, and we can arm you with the information to make a wise decision. Below are some warning signs to keep an eye out for, which can help you decide if it is time to replace your furnace. Not all of these signs may apply to your particular furnace, but they are important to know.

1. How old is your furnace?
The average life expectancy of a typical furnace today is between 16-20 years. If your furnace is in this range, or approaching it, you should begin thinking about your next furnace. Most people prefer to replace their furnace as a planned home improvement, rather than an emergency replacement when the furnace fails or falters. The typical lifespan of a warm air furnace varies based on its operating equipment, which is why you should have your system regularly checked by a trained technician who can assess its condition and make recommendations.

2. Are your energy bills going up?
Rising energy costs may not be the only reason for a high energy bill. Furnaces can lose efficiency as they age, and may need to run longer to provide the same amount of heat, causing energy bills to go up. And just think, all of the money you pay your utility company could go towards a new, more energy-efficient and energy-saving furnace.

3. Have you had any furnace repairs in the past 2 years?
As furnaces ages, parts may start to break down pretty rapidly. You may replace one part, just to replace another the next year. Soon, you could be spending hundreds of dollars just to keep an old furnace running. Most breakdowns occur in the last two years of a furnace’s life. And as your furnace ages, it may be harder and harder to source replacement parts.

4. Does your thermostat keep you comfortable?
Are some rooms in your home too hot while others are still chilly? This may indicate that your furnace is having trouble distributing air throughout your home.

5. If you have a natural gas furnace, is the burner flame yellow?
Any heating system runs the risk of carbon monoxide emissions, however older chimney-vented oil-fired furnaces don’t necessarily run the same risk as natural gas or propane furnaces. With regular annual maintenance and cleaning by a qualified service technician, these beasts can run safely and reliably for decades. If you do own a natural gas or propane furnace, a yellow or flicking flame may be a sign that carbon monoxide is being created by your furnace. Other possible signs of carbon monoxide emissions include…

1. Streaks of soot around furnace
2. Absence of upward draft in your chimney
3. Excess moisture on windows, walls, or other cold surfaces
4. Excessive rusting on flue pipes, other pipe connections, or appliance jacks
5. Small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent, or flue pipe
6. Rust on the portion of the vent pipe visible outside

Always be mindful and monitor your furnace for the signs above, and most importantly, have a carbon monoxide meter on each floor of your home!

6. How are you and your family feeling?
If your furnace develops a crack in the heat exchanger, dangerous carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home undetected. If you or your family are experiencing frequent headaches, burning feeling in your nose or eyes, nausea, disorientation, or flu-like symptoms, it could be caused by carbon monoxide. Immediately open some windows to air out your house and call a service technician.

7. Is your furnace making weird noises?
Have you heard any banging, popping, rattling, or squealing noises from your furnace? Is the furnace blower running excessively, or is the blower turning on and off, or blowing cold air? These could all be signs that your furnace may need to be replaced.

8. Is your house dry or dusty?
Old furnaces can lack the ability to moisturize or clean the air in your home, making your house feel stuffy or stale. Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies to dust, mold, pollen, or dander? Or does is someone suffering from a dry nose, throat, or skin? You may also notice frequent dust accumulation, static shocks, droopy plants, furniture cracking, or musical instruments not staying in tune. These observations could mean that your old furnace is not providing the level of comfort you and your family are looking for. Call a Burke Energy technician to have your furnace and ventilation assessed, to see if it is time for you to purchase a new furnace.

Think you need a new furnace? It may end up saving you money!

No one can dispute that a new furnace is a substantial cost associated with home ownership. But is also needs to be seen as a long-term investment. Furnaces today are much more energy-efficient than those installed as recently as 20 years ago. Even though the short-term expense is large, over the long-term a new furnace will more than likely save you money by lowering annual energy costs.

We’ve got the furnaces to help you save!

Installing a new home furnace or heating system from Burke Energy will improve your home’s value and keep your family comfortable. Enjoy fast installation and professional training on your system, and qualified customers can take advantage of all our great financing options.

Count on us for all your furnace maintenance and repairs.

Our multiple service contracts and protection plan options can make all the difference whether you need to maintain your current furnace or protect your investment in a new furnace. Our plans provide the tune-up, repair and maintenance services required to keep your furnace running, and are backed by around the clock service and support.

Think you need a new furnace? Have a Burke Energy technician assess your current furnace!

Make sure your furnace is operating efficiently by scheduling a tune-up today!
Burke offers 24/7 heating systems and equipment repair services 

Start saving today by installing a new, energy-efficient home heating system 

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*Source : homeenergycenter.com