The average life expectancy of a furnace or any other HVAC
system is around 15 years. After that, HVAC systems start to perform poorly and
consume more electricity. According to the US Department of Energy, a
20-year-old furnace wastes about 22% of the energy.
HVAC technologies have improved a lot in the last few decades.
Today’s HVAC systems are more efficient than ever. For example, most of the
modern furnace systems have AFUE 95% rating, which is highly efficient.
In this article, I’ll talk briefly about whether a 15-year-old
furnace efficient or not. But first, you need to know about the signs of an
inefficient furnace system.
3 Signs Your
Furnace is Inefficient
1. Frequent
Furnace Repair
Frequent furnace repair is the first sign that your furnace is
inefficient. If you’re calling your nearby HVAC repair professional frequently
for furnace repair then your furnace components are working hard to produce your
desired heating. When your furnace components work hard, your furnace will have
more wear and tear, and eventually, it’ll have a system breakdown.
Again, if you find out that the components of your HVAC systems
are in bad shape, you should consider replacing your furnace system. Because
when you have an old furnace, it’s likely that one or two parts of your furnace
system are completely or partially damaged. These parts will hinder other parts
from functioning, and as a result, the furnace efficiency will be reduced.
2. Hot and Cold
Spots
If you notice hot and cold spots in different rooms of your
house, it’s a sign that your furnace is in the last few days of its life and
you need to replace your old furnace. However, new furnace owners also can face
hot and cold spots in their home, but this is very common for households that
have an old furnace system.
3. High Heating
Bills
Finally, if you notice a spike in the heating bills, there is a
huge chance that your furnace has become inefficient and it’s time to replace
your old furnace system.
When your furnace gets old, components of the furnace system
have to work harder to produce your desired heating. As a result, it starts to
consume more electricity, that leads to higher heating bills. Again, when the
components of your furnace work hard, it puts a lot of stress and strain on the
HVAC system. Eventually, your furnace requires more repairs.
That’s why if you’re noticing a spike in the heating bills, you
should consult with your nearby HVAC professional and replace your old furnace.
Efficiency of
a 15-Year-Old Furnace
Technologies have improved a lot in the last few decades, so did
HVAC systems and furnace systems. Now, HVAC systems and furnace systems are
more efficient and consume less power. Besides, a lot of new HVAC technologies
have arrived that were unimaginable decades ago. These additions make the
modern HVAC systems and furnace systems highly efficient.
If you have a 15-year-old furnace then it is at the end of its
lifespan. It’s likely that the components of your furnace aren’t in good
condition. Besides, over the years, all the components of your furnace system
have gone through a lot of wear and tear. These wear and tears play a
significant role in reducing furnace efficiency.
As I mentioned earlier, when you have a 15- to 20-year-old
furnace, it wastes around 18 to 22 percentage of the energy. That means if you
spend 100 dollars in your furnace, 20 dollars will be wasted. On the other
hand, the modern HVAC system has a 95% AFUE rating. That means if you spend
100 dollars in your furnace, only 5 dollars will be wasted.
From this comparison, you can understand the difference between
a modern and old furnace. If you’re planning to save money on heating bills,
you should replace your old furnace as soon as possible.
You may be thinking that investing in a new furnace system
requires a lot of money. But you should consider this as an investment. New
furnace system comes with technologies and new features. As new furnace systems
use less electricity or gas, you’ll be benefitted financially in the long run.
Besides, you’ll have more comfort compared to your old furnace system.
Bottom
Line
If your furnace is more than 15-years-old, you should consider
replacing your old furnace because you’ll be benefitted in the long run.
See the summary of this article here – 3
Signs of An Inefficient Furnace [Infographic]
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