Do I Need a New Heater This Season?
Now is the time of year when it’s a good idea to start thinking about preparing your home heating system for the onset of the heating season. For most homeowners, that will simply mean scheduling professional maintenance services. For some people, though, it’s going to mean replacing their heating system altogether. If you’re not sure whether or not your heating system can survive another season, you should call a technician and have them evaluate your heater in-person. In the meantime, the following are some pretty clear indications that it’s time to have your current system replaced.
Unusually High Monthly Bills
Your heating bills are obviously going to go up, whether gas or electric, over the next several months. The more you use your heater, the more costly it’s going to be. However, you should talk to a professional if your heating system seems to be costing you much more to use than you think it should. As a heating system ages, it will gradually lose its heating efficiency. This forces the heating system to operate for longer and longer periods of time in order to compensate, which in turn adds to your monthly bills.
Frequent Breakdowns
If your heating system breaks down once every handful of years, congratulations! It’s completely normal. If it’s breaking down every year, though, it’s probably time to contact a professional and talk about installing a new one. Heating systems that break down that frequently often do so because they have so much wear and tear on them that the parts inside just can’t keep up anymore. This causes the system to break down far more frequently, and will only get worse the longer you insist on using it. Better to replace the entire system now than to keep paying to fix your current one.
Old Age
The issues that often lead to the replacement of a heating system are typically linked to the age of that system. The average heating system lasts around 10-15 years before it starts to accumulate some pretty serious chronic issues that impact its cost effectiveness. The longer the system is in use after that point, the more it’s going to cost to keep it up and running. If your heating system is older than 15 years, we highly recommend that you consult with a technician in person about installing a new one as soon as you can. You’ll save a lot more money in the long run.
Remember, though, that all of the above points are just guidelines about the various issues that can lead to heating system replacement. If you want a definitive answer on your heating system, the best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with a trusted technician and have them give you a recommendation. That will be the best way to make sure that you get the home heating solution you need most for your situation.