FURNACE REPLACEMENT 
Columbia, SC

We've seen everything when it comes to issues with a furnace, but the most common issues are dirty filters, a cracked heat exchanger, and a faulty pilot light. All of these issues can be fixed, some easier than others. Let's dive into them.

Dirty filters

A dirty air filter on a furnace will cause your furnace to work a lot harder than it needs to to warm your house.This will cause your electricity bills to rise as your furnace isn't working efficiently anymore, and will also cause your furnace to break faster than normal because of how hard it's working. You can change an air filter on your own pretty easily, but if you're worried or don't know how to do it, you can always call your local plumber to come help you out with it. Changing your air filter may even be part of your annual check up, but we'll get more into that later.

Faulty pilot light

If your pilot light isn't working, or it's a yellow color (it should be a bright blue flame), then you may have an issue with carbon monoxide flowing freely into your home. If this is the case, you should call a licensed technician right away to check out the problem and ensure the safety of your family and your home. Inhaling carbon monoxide can be fatal, so it's important to take care of this right away.

Cracked heat exchanger

A cracked heat exchanger is a dangerous situation. The heat exchanger is the piece of the furnace that keeps the flames out of the air, which would cause your house to catch on fire if it isn't working how it needs to. If you are smelling a burning smell when you turn on your furnace, that's a sign it could be a cracked heat exchanger and it's important to call a licensed technician right away to be safe. This is something that needs to be handled right away in order to keep your family and your home safe.

How Long Does a Furnace Last?

Your furnace can last anywhere from 15-30 years. It all depends on the type of furnace you have, and if it has regular maintenance done to it. As for regular maintenance, you can have a licensed technician come out to your home once a year to take a look at all the important parts and make sure your furnace is safe and working like it needs to. This annual check up can find anything wrong before it turns into a bigger issue, and this preventative maintenance can cost less than something going wrong in the future.

Of course, replacing your furnace is a choice you have to make based on your circumstances. The older your unit gets, the less efficiently it runs. This means it could be costing you more on your electricity bills as the years go on. And, as technology becomes more advanced, there could be a new furnace on the market that is more cost effective because it heats your home easier and quicker than the older model, but it all depends on the price you'd pay up front for the new unit and the price in savings. It also depends on if you're seeing the signs of age or if it just isn't working anymore. That, of course, is a reason to get it replaced.