Is Your Furnace in Jacksonville, NC, Inefficient? Here’s How to Tell

You don’t want to spend more money than necessary to heat your home in Jacksonville, NC. Furnaces don’t last forever, though. Before they reach the end of their 15- or 20-year lifespan, they can run inefficiently and drain your wallet. If you watch for the following warning signs, you can make an informed decision as to whether to fix the furnace or replace it:

Look at Your Monthly Bill

Let’s say you see a spike in your energy bill despite the fact that you haven’t raised the set point on your thermostat. This shows that the furnace is now struggling to do what it has done in the past with ease. The problem could range from a clogged filter to dirty burners.

Consider the Cycle Time

A furnace shouldn’t cycle more than two or three times in an hour. Multiple short cycles point to a malfunctioning system, perhaps because of a bad thermostat. If a furnace takes longer now to reach the same desired temperature, that signifies a malfunction somewhere as well. Other times, homeowners may notice nothing odd with the cycle time but feel that the air itself is lukewarm.

Determine the AFUE Rating

Furnaces have an AFUE rating, a percentage that tells you how much heat a unit produces in proportion to how much fuel it’s given. As a part of maintenance, a service technician could determine this for you and then compare it to what it should be. For example, an AFUE 90% furnace (which loses only 10% of the fuel energy) with a current rating of 80% clearly has problems.

Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning has been providing heating repairs in the Jacksonville area since 1967, and we’d love to help you improve your furnace’s performance. We guarantee 100% customer satisfaction. For more information or to schedule a heating repair, call Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning today.

Image provided by iStock