3 Warning Signs Your Furnace Is About to Fail

December 18, 2019

Don’t wait for the furnace in your Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, home to fail before replacing it. Instead, pay attention to the warning signs of impending failure and take action before a crisis occurs during the cold winter months. Rising utility bills, frequent breakdowns, and strange noises are signs that a furnace is about to fail, particularly if it’s more than 10 years old.

Rising Utility Bills

If your energy bills are rising without an obvious reason, such as unusually cold weather, decreased efficiency is usually to blame. Furnaces become less efficient as they age and increased utility bills are often one of the first signs that a furnace is starting to fail. Having it serviced may help you extend its life for another year or two, but it’s smart to start planning for replacement if you have an aging furnace that’s operating less efficiently.

Frequent Breakdowns

Like any piece of complex machinery, furnaces break down more often as they near the end of their life expectancies. If your unit is breaking down frequently and repair costs are adding up, it’s time to consider replacement. While no one enjoys spending money on a new furnace, it’s better to put your money toward a new, efficient unit than pouring money into repairing an old, inefficient one.

Strange Noises

Furnaces tend to make strange noises before they fail. Bangs, pops, squeals, and rattling are all red flags. If you’re hearing these noises regularly, it’s likely your unit is nearing the end of its life. Some sounds, such as metallic, scraping noises, require immediate action on your part. These types of sounds usually indicate a problem with the motor or blower wheel, and you should shut off the furnace and have the unit inspected if you hear any of them.

If you suspect your furnace is about to fail, give us a call at AC Heating and Air Conditioning Services at (843) 277-9928. We’ll inspect it and help you come up with a repair or replacement plan depending on what we find during the inspection.

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