Frequently Asked Questions: Furnace Replacements

Not all furnaces are made alike. Here are some of the types of furnaces that are available for consumers:

Natural Gas Furnaces

A natural gas furnace is the most common type of furnace today, and it heats a house well even during the harshest winters. They run on inexpensive fuel, are fast, and are efficient. They also have a high environmental impact and require ductwork throughout the house.

Oil Furnaces

Due to the high price of oil, these furnaces are becoming obsolete. Some older homes still have them. Carbon monoxide is still released into the air with them, even though they’re more eco-friendly than natural gas furnaces.

Electric Furnaces

Buying and installing an electric furnace is the cheapest, but running one is the most expensive. As well as being easier to maintain, they take a long time to warm up. In warm climates with less intense heating needs, these furnaces are common.

Coal Furnaces

Wood or coal-burning furnaces aren’t common in cities or suburbs, but you can still find them in some rural areas. You can use them completely off the grid, and they’re cheap to run. They do, however, require a lot of maintenance, including regular ash cleaning and boiler feeding.

Propane

Propane is a gas byproduct of oil production that can be used to power furnaces, especially in areas without access to other fuels. Some compact, rural homes can benefit from propane furnaces’ small size. A conversion kit can convert natural gas furnaces to propane.

Ductless Mini-Split Systems

One mini-split does both heating and cooling. It’s good for smaller homes and building additions since it doesn’t require ductwork.

Steam Boiler Heating Systems

A steam boiler produces heat by heating water to make steam. Steam boilers burn fuel to heat water. Steam is created when heat and water combine. Boilers are defined by their construction, portability, types of tubes, fuel types, and pressure.

Most residential furnaces have a lifespan of 15-20 years. You don’t have to wait that long to replace yours. After about 12 years, you may decide to consider a furnace replacement if your unit has been experiencing significant problems and requiring frequent repairs.

Ideally, you don’t want to wait until your furnace dies to replace it. You could be left without heat in the middle of winter. Instead, keep an eye on how your furnace is working, both economically and efficiently.

You might want to replace it if you see these signs:

• Frequent repairs which increase the cost of the system.
• Noises like buzzing or rattling are coming from the furnace.
• It’s blowing dust, soot, or rust, especially around the register.
• It starts turning on and off more often.
• There’s a crack in the heat exchanger.
• It’s not being used as much, but your heating bills are going up.
• It’s unevenly heated in your house.
• Rust, cracks, and corrosion are visible around the furnace.
• Your home is getting humid.

There are some warning signs that just mean something needs to be fixed or maintained. When the repairs and costs start to pile up near the end of the appliance’s lifespan, it might be time to replace it.