Almost all furnaces are durable and built to last. Nonetheless, keeping an older model in use usually means higher heating costs and more frequent repairs, which can cost a homeowner a lot more in the long run.
To make matters worse, outdated heating systems can pose significant safety hazards as well — hazards that are more likely to happen if the unit didn’t get proper maintenance over the years.
In order to help our valued customers learn about some of the hidden dangers of an old furnace, as well as know which warning signs to watch for, our team here at Springboro Heating & Cooling put together the following:
3 Major Hazards of Old Heating Equipment
Carbon Monoxide
After years of faithful functioning, safety features intended to prevent carbon monoxide from becoming a threat tend to become unreliable as a heating system ages. Should carbon monoxide ever leak from the system, if the proper fail-safes aren’t in place, it can put you and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition to that, because furnaces lose efficiency as they age, smaller levels of carbon monoxide can leak out and fail to trip safety sensors. If this happens, over time the levels could cause health problems.
Fire Hazards
Year after year, through the coldest weather Ohio has to offer, our furnaces are built to heat our homes safely and efficiently. And even though almost all systems have built-in safety features to prevent fires, many of these features stop working over time. Because of this, lifespan estimates indicating how long a heating system will work should be understood to be ballpark figures based on averages that often fail to take into account safety mechanisms. Homeowners should keep this in mind, that safety features tend to decline over the years. As such, if you have a heating system that is past its estimated lifespan, it’s a good idea to at least have its safety features checked by a certified HVAC technician near you. Safety checks are a part of preventative maintenance, which is supposed to be performed prior to every heating season.
Gas Leaks
Furnaces burning natural gas are far more prone to gas leaks when they are older — as opposed to some of the newer models that use far safer and far more efficient technology. The equipment used in gas furnaces tends to corrode over time, which can easily cause smaller leaks to develop. Again here, while most furnaces come with safety features designed to warn residents, these features become unreliable in older systems that are outdated. Keep in mind if you have an oil furnace that oil furnaces are no exception. Oil furnaces are prone to fuel leakages that can damage the home and cause fires under certain circumstances.
Severe Warning Signs
As we’ve covered here, the hidden dangers of aging heating equipment are serious. As such, it’s imperative we all watch for the signs of trouble. When it comes to any sort of HVAC system, being proactive and practicing caution is a must. Safety must come first, especially when we have loved ones living with us. A few of the more common warning signs of trouble include:
- Flu-Like Symptoms: An odorless, invisible gas, carbon monoxide is rarely noticed when it leaks. Nevertheless, if you or your loved ones are experiencing flu-like symptoms, this could be a sign of trouble. As such, flu-like symptoms should be taken seriously, and this possibility should be considered.
- Yellow Flame: Our furnace’s burner and pilot light flame should always be blue and it should never be flickering. If you see a flickering flame, or if it is yellow, call us immediately because there could be a carbon monoxide or gas leak.
- Rising Heating Costs: If your heating costs are on the rise or if it seems like you’re paying more for heating than normal, you might have a furnace problem. Moving forward, as such, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the amount of money you are spending on heating costs on a month to month basis as this is often a sign of some kind of problem.
- Unusual Noises: If you are hearing pounding, rattling, grinding, whistling, popping, or squealing noises arising from your heating system or out of your air ducts, this is another sign your system is heading for trouble. Moreover, you should also listen for the sound of your blower running constantly.
How to avoid these dangers . . .
Looking at all the hidden dangers of an old furnace with their warning signs and implications, a homeowner using an older system is likely to wonder: What can I do to avoid these hidden dangers if my furnace is older?
The best answer we can give, other than replacing it, involves making sure you have a professional HVAC technician perform maintenance. Maintenance not only enables one of our certified technicians, who are insured, to catch these sorts of problems early on, but it also gives us the chance to prevent them from causing further problems. Meanwhile, you get to save hard-earned money on energy costs while prolonging the lifespan of your heating equipment.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Springboro Heating & Cooling today at 937-600-6834, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
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Have a Merry Christmas!
