by Cyndi Li

Created on: February 21, 2013

It’s going to happen eventually. There’s no avoiding it. Just like any other appliance found in your home, your furnace will someday run out of life. Before it goes completely on the fritz,there will be signs that tell you it’s getting ready to quit. If you ignore these signs, you might find yourself out in the cold while you wait for a new one to arrive. Here are some common signs yourfurnace is getting ready to quit.

One sign your furnace is going on the fritz is a constant need to adjust an otherwise functional thermostat. Heating and cooling specialists Altrol, Inc. states a reason for this is because your furnace isn’t regulating the heat at a constant temperature any more. If you notice you’re adjusting the thermostat more than you usually do, your furnace may be telling yousomething. Red Beacon, Inc. suggests checking to see if the thermostat itself is the problem before troubleshooting the furnace itself.  

Another sign to look for is for your heating bill to increase per the Home Energy Center. As your furnace gets older, and the parts start wearing out, it won’t heat as efficiently as it once did; even if you’ve been having it cleaned on a regular basis. The results of this will show up in your heating bill.  (Home Energy Center)

Adding to the list of signs your furnace may be going on the fritz is the reality that you have to have it repaired often. If one part breaks that doesn’t mean the end it near, but if you find you’re having to replace parts or have them repaired often, it could mean it’s on its last leg.

If you have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home, and it keeps going off, that could bean indication your furnace is getting ready to go on the fritzaccording to Cavalry Heating and Cooling. An inefficiently running furnace can cause your detector to activate, and sometimes, very often. If your carbon monoxide detector keeps going off, have a professional take a look at your furnace. 

Note: Even if your carbon monoxide detector seems to continually activate for no reason, always call the fire department, and leave your home until they arrive and confirm it is safe to go back in.

Other possible signs your furnace is breaking down include:

It doesn’t reach full temperature

Humidity problems in your home

Back drafts in your home

Most furnaces will last between as long as the heat exchanger or 20-30 years per High Performance Heating and Air, but that’s not always the case. If your furnace is showing any of these signs, you’d be wise to have a professional take a look at it. It might be better to replace it before it completely quits working. 

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