Recognize the Signs for HVAC Replacement

For equipment that is as steadfast and sturdy as HVAC units, it is always difficult to realize when it is finally time to part ways with the trusty heating system that had successfully kept you warm during cold winter nights and cool during hot summer days.

However, as hard as it might be to get rid of a seemingly functional appliance, all manufacturers of heating appliances claim that replacing the HVAC system is a process that has to be carried out by the end of the listed expected service life of the product. This time period is usually estimated to be around a decade for air conditioning units and fifteen to twenty years for furnaces and boilers.

However, most people choose to ignore these simple instructions, or are reluctant to act upon them given the expensive costs of these units. While service age is a serious factor when determining replacement, some signs make replacing HVAC system evident, detailing that the unit is too far gone to be rescued through repairs. These symptoms are stark indicators that the period of replacement for these units has arrived.

For a furnace, there are specific symptoms that you need to look out for:

The core of any gas-fired furnace is its heat exchanger. The heat exchanger allows heat to transfer from the gas burners so that it can circulate throughout the system. This is why if the heat exchanger is damaged in anyway, it is essential to replace it.

Damage occurs in heat exchangers in the form of cracks and holes. These occur when the exchanger heat up beyond their endurance capacity and expand beyond the limits of their original design. This is process that is eminent with age but can also be caused by dirty air filters.

Heat exchangers are also susceptible to rusting if there is a high amount of moisture in the area or if the furnace is bound closely to the central AC. Rusting can also occur if the interior exchanger on the air conditioner has an issue with its condensate pan or drain, which causes water to leak and drip onto the furnace exchanger.

Symptoms that show a faulty heat exchanger include bad smelling exhausts emanating into your living space and soot sinking into orifices around your house or gathering around the furnace itself. It is essential to get this fixed because a breach in the exchanger lets the toxic exhaust gases to mix with the circulated air of the system which can result in CO2 poisoning. This is when you should call your nearest HVAC Service Company immediately.