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DCL
Life would be rough without a decent furnace, especially for those living through harsh northern winters. How did you fare this winter? Were you adequately comfortable as the chilly winds swirled around your house? Were your utility bills affordable? If you answered no to the last two questions, it might be your furnace that's giving you grief.
How do you know if your furnace is causing you trouble? Here are a few indicative signs.
Energy Star suggests replacing your furnace if it is over fifteen years old. You can find new furnaces that run at 95% efficiency and better.
The American Council for An Energy Efficient Economy recommends replacing the following models.
- Old coal burner that was previously switched over to oil or gas
- Old gas furnace without electronic ignition. If it has a pilot light, it was probably installed prior to 1992 and has an efficiency of about 65% efficient (the least efficient systems today are 80%)
- Old gas furnace without vent dampers or an induced draft fan (which limit the flow of heated air up the chimney when the heating system is off).
Other signs of trouble in your heating system:
1. Odors
2. Constant Need of Servicing
3. Noise
4. Excess Humidity
5. Dust
Replace or Repair
If you have an old, old furnace, one that runs at 65% efficiency or below, you are better off replacing your furnace with a newer model. A modern, non-Energy Star furnace gets about 80% efficiency. If your furnace can maintain that number, you might be better off spending your money on a different home improvement project like insulation or double paned windows.
