When Is the Right Time to Upgrade Your Home Heating Unit? 6 Signs to Watch Out For

No matter where we live, we rely on our heaters to get us comfortably through the winter. Although keeping a heater in good repair may be more important in colder northern states, even in warmer states like Florida, it can get chilly in the winter. As heating units get older, they may not work as well as they used to. For this reason, it’s important to know when it’s time to upgrade your heating system so that it can work as effectively as possible to keep you warm and comfortable during the colder months.

Look for these signs that it’s time to upgrade your heating unit.

Sign #1

The Heater Is Old

The average lifespan of a heating unit is between 15 and 20 years old. Any older than that and the unit is running on borrowed time. You may want to consider proactively replacing your heating if it’s getting old. That way, you can get through the winter confident that your heating unit won’t break down at an inopportune moment. Plus, older units aren’t as efficient and can cost more both in energy bills and to repair.

Sign #2

The Heater Makes Loud Noises

If your heating unit is making noise, it may be time to replace it. The blower could be louder than it was before, or the unit could make strange noises, including:

• Rumbling
• Squeaking
• Rattling
• Clanking

Any time that you find yourself competing with your heating unit in order to hear or be heard, it’s time to think about an upgrade.

Sign #3

Your Energy Bills Are High

Older heating units aren’t as efficient as newer once. This is in part due to older units just not working as well as they used to and in part due to newer units being designed in a more energy-efficient way. If you find that your energy bills are higher than they used to be, you should consider upgrading your heating unit to a new one, especially one that’s more energy-efficient, such as those with Energy Star ratings.

Sign #4

The Heater Runs for Longer

If your heater takes a long time to run through its normal cycle, that’s a sign that it’s not running as well as it used to. A long running time is a sign that the heating unit just isn’t able to heat as effectively any more. It may be time for a new unit.

Sign #5

The Heater Doesn’t Heat

A heating unit that’s ready to be replaced may not heat as well as it used to. If you set the thermostat to the temperature you want, but the heater just isn’t able to keep up, it’s time for a new one. If your house feels perpetually chilly no matter how high you set the thermostat, it might be time to think about replacement.

Sign #6

The Heater Needs a Lot of Repairs

Just like with cars, a heating unit will reach a point at which it’s no longer worth it to repair. If your heating unit needs repairs frequently and they’re expensive repairs, it’ll be more cost-effective to just replace the heater.