When to Repair or Replace Your Furnace

The question of when to repair a malfunctioning furnace versus when to replace it is one of the most common questions that our team at Mike Brummitt Heating & Cooling receives. In most cases, homeowners will start to notice some of the signs of a furnace breakdown, while on other occasions, the whole thing fails without any warning. Becoming familiar with the signs of an impending furnace breakdown and knowing when it’s worthwhile to repair and when you’re better off replacing it could save you plenty of time, money, and frustration.

Signs of a Furnace Breakdown

These six signs are the most common symptoms that you’ve got a serious furnace problem on your hands:

n1. Frequent turning on and off of the furnace. This frequent cycling suggests a problem with the thermostat, burners, safety valves, or the presence of significant air leaks in your home.

n2. No heat. Any number of malfunctions can cause this problem. From a blown motor or broken fan to a cracked burner, broken heat exchanger, or faulty thermopile, having no heat might be the first sign you notice.

n3. Unusual odors. If there’s an odor of natural gas, immediately leave your house and then call for emergency assistance. A burnt smell, electrical smell, or any other strange smell could result from an electrical problem, dirty air filter, or dust within the furnace or air vents. A tune-up or repair may be needed.

n4. CO2 alarm sounds. If your alarms go off, open your windows, shut off any gas operated appliances, and then leave your house. Then call for an emergency repair service.

n5. Strange sounds. If your furnace suddenly begins making loud, new, or unusual sounds during a heating cycle, it could have a mechanical problem that needs repair. A loose or worn belt, bent fan blade, or motor could be to blame.

n6. Sudden increase in heating bill cost. If your utility company hasn’t instituted a rate increase and you haven’t increased the temperature on your thermostat, then the furnace is not operating in an efficient manner.

Repairing Versus Replacing Your Furnace

Once your furnace has been inspected by a heating and air conditioning service technician, you’ll need to make a choice about repairing versus replacing it. A good rule of thumb is that if the cost of a repair is 50 percent of the cost of replacing, then it’s usually a wise decision to replace the furnace. Similarly, if the furnace is close to its expected lifespan, it’s better to replace rather than repair. If the furnace is still under warranty, the terms of your warranty may dictate the decision for you.

nWhen you notice a furnace problem, our Oxford, NC, heating repair services team is available for emergency service, repairs, and installation of new heating systems. Call us any time to schedule your furnace inspection, repair, or replacement service.