Your oil furnace is an important investment, especially during the winter months in Central Pennsylvania. When the furnace’s lifespan nears its end, it’s essential for you to watch for warning signs and replace the equipment before it completely stops working on one of those frigid December mornings.

Start Shopping Early

Today’s home furnaces have an average lifespan between 16 and 20 years. Many of them come with 10-year warranties, but the units themselves last much longer. As long as you routinely change the filter and keep up with other small maintenance tasks, your furnace could work for up to 25 years.

If you think your heating system is getting up there in age, check to see if there’s an installation date on it. Some technicians write the year they installed the furnace right on the unit. Otherwise, turn off the furnace, look for a metal identification plate and write down the model and serial numbers on the plate. Then, you can call the manufacturer to get the date your furnace was made.

Consider the Warning Signs

It literally pays to stay prepared and keep a close eye on your heating system. If you pay attention to some common warning signs, you can avoid a costly emergency repair and replace your unit before it completely shuts down.

Here are a few signs that indicate a need to replace your heating system:

• Weird noises: Some of the most obvious signs are pops, rattles, squeals and more. Also, listen to see if your furnace’s blower is running more than usual. If so, it’s probably time to look at a replacement.
• Rising energy bills: As your oil furnace hits its maximum lifespan, it loses efficiency. You’ll notice that it has to run longer to produce the same amount of heat, and your bill will go up.
• Frequent repairs: Look at how many repairs you’ve invested in over the past two years. Furnaces need the most repairs during the last two years of their lives. If you’re spending lots of money on frequent repairs, it can be more cost-effective to purchase a replacement.
• Varying temperatures: Is your bedroom significantly colder than your living room? With an old oil furnace that can’t distribute heat evenly, some rooms will be too hot while others are too cold.
• Humidity issues: When your home feels too humid in the summer or too dry in the winter, it could be because you need to replace your heating system.

Contact Marstellar Oil and Concrete

Don’t put off replacing your home’s heating system until it’s too late and your heat shuts off. Watch for the warning signs above to know when it’s time to replace your home furnace, and keep your oil furnace’s lifespan in mind when it comes to budgeting for a new unit.

In the meantime, make sure your oil tank stays full by ordering from Marstellar Oil and Concrete. We deliver throughout the Capitol region and offer low prices, and a low order minimum to help you stay warm all winter. Contact us today to learn more.