Planning a Furnace Replacement

Posted on: 22 February 2021

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Heating contractors sometimes must tell customers that it's time to plan for furnace replacement. Heating and cooling technicians are willing to continue making repairs and keeping the system running unless the appliance poses a potential safety hazard. If the furnace is very old, then it means that years of wear on the heat exchanger could increase the chances of carbon monoxide leaking. Read on to learn about replacing your furnace.  

Why Maintenance Is So Important

The advice to plan for furnace replacement could come during an appointment for repair service or regular maintenance. Maintenance appointments are strongly recommended for furnaces of any age, but the work becomes essential when the equipment reaches the teen years. Heating technicians replace worn parts to prevent system breakdowns at inconvenient times. They also let customers know when the furnace is nearing the end of its lifespan.

A Definitive Sign

When the need for repair service happens multiple times in two or three years, this is a definitive sign that the furnace should be replaced. The equipment will not last much longer. Some homeowners delay because they don't like dealing with this major expense. Yet it's crucial to make a plan for replacement and schedule the work. If the furnace does become a health hazard, heating contractors are obligated to shut the equipment down and tag it as dangerous.

The Carbon Monoxide Risk

Sometimes the seal separates in the heat exchanger. Even a tiny crack leaks carbon monoxide into the home through ducts. In other cases, the technician knows through experience that the seal will not last long. This can happen at an inconvenient time for the homeowners. In the midst of an unusual cold spell, heating contractors are very busy. Furnace removal and replacement generally require at least four hours and sometimes longer. It's possible that no contractors can do this work the very next day if their schedules are full.

If the seal is still intact, customers might ask to continue running the equipment for a day or two until a new one is installed. They have a CO2 detector that would alert them to poison in the air. This is unsafe. The device might not be sensitive enough to detect minute amounts of the toxic gas. Even those amounts can make people very sick. Any level of CO2 in a home is especially dangerous for the smallest family members, such as infants, toddlers, and pets.

The Smart Choice

Figuring out a payment option and scheduling installation as recommended is wise. Households should not take chances in these situations. After the work is complete, they enjoy a furnace that is more energy-efficient, quieter, and entirely safe.