Atlanta, Georgia – The cold winter months are here again. When was the last time you had your furnace checked? Is it time for a new unit to be installed?

Phil Montgomery, an Atlanta heating and air expert and owner of Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning, offers some tips to help clients understand when it might be time to replace their heating unit.

The first thing to take into account when deciding whether to replace your furnace is the age of the unit.

“The usual life expectancy is 15-20 years, so if your unit is around this age, it’s probably time to start shopping,” says Montgomery, whose air conditioning repair business has more than 40 years of experience. “It’s best to replace your unit before an emergency happens so you give yourself time to research and make the best purchasing decision.”

Furnaces also lose their efficiency as they age, so in addition to worrying about the unit failing, your energy costs may be rising. Your furnace may need to run longer to heat your home, causing your energy prices to go up.

Has your unit needed frequent repairs? If so, it may be more cost efficient to replace the entire unit rather than replace different parts each year. Also pay attention to how quickly the repairs to your furnace are being made. If you have to wait for parts, that is a good sign your furnace is becoming outdated because the older a furnace is, the harder it is to find replacement parts.

Do you constantly have to adjust your thermostat to find a comfortable temperature? If so, this can be a sign that your furnace is having difficulty properly distributing air.

Are you hearing strange noises coming from your furnace? Banging, popping, rattling and other loud noises may be an indication your unit is nearing the end of its life.

Has anyone in your family been suffering from frequent headaches, burning feeling in the nose or eyes, or nausea? These symptoms could be signs that dangerous carbon monoxide is leaking into your home.

“Check your burner flame to be sure it is still blue,” says Montgomery, who has been installing new furnaces and air conditioners in the Atlanta area for years. “If it has turned yellow, it can be an indication that carbon monoxide is being released. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, open the windows of your home, air out the room the furnace is in and immediately call your gas company.”

Is your home dry and dusty? These can also be signs that it is time to update your heating unit. You may be able to solve an excessive dust problem by sealing leaky ducts. Be sure your filters are clean and replaced regularly, and if your family experiences frequent allergy symptoms, it may be time to ask about air purification systems.

Qualified technicians will be able to examine your unit to determine if you are in need of an upgrade. Be sure to have regular checks with a qualified technician, and during these checks, ask what the unit’s Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is. This will tell you how much of the energy used by the furnace generates heat that is circulated through your house and how much of it escapes. The higher your AFUE, the lower your energy bill will be each month. A good rule of thumb to remember is if you begin to drop below the 80 percent range, it may be time for repairs or a replacement.

Maintaining regular service appointments will also help prevent an emergency during the cold winter months when you need the heat the most. Regular maintenance can find problems and get them fixed well before the cold sets in.

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