Anyone who lives in a place where cold winters are a given is bound to understand the importance of a good household heating system. Whether you spend a fair amount of time in your home or use it mostly as a place to rest your head at night, the colder it gets outside, the more important a solid, working heating system becomes. Of course, not every home comes equipped with a brand new system, and over time, older systems can start to break down without homeowners being any the wiser until it’s too late. The question is: How does a homeowner know whether his heating system needs to be repaired or completely replaced?
Walter Tulecki, owner of the New Jersey-based WT Mechanical, a plumbing, heating, and cooling company, says that most homeowners are not equipped to determine whether a heating system is salvageable or needs to be replaced entirely. For this reason, one service offered by WT Mechanical is the inspection and evaluation of home heating systems. As an expert in his field, Tulecki can analyze a system and advise a homeowner as to whether it’s likely to last for a few more years, months, or minutes. While the average homeowner might not be able to make a similarly accurate determination himself, the following are some of the signs that a heating system should be replaced:
When it starts getting old
One way to figure out if your heating system needs to be replaced is to use common sense and figure out how old it is. Most modern-day heating systems are designed to last 15 to 20 years, but anything older is likely to be a good candidate for replacement.
When your utility bills start increasing significantly
If you find that your utility bills seem to be getting higher and higher for no apparent reason, then it could be a sign that your heating system is in need of replacement. Heating systems generally lose efficiency over the years, but most homeowners don’t tend to notice a significant difference from one year to the next. Therefore, if your heating bills start climbing out of nowhere, then it probably means that your system is working considerably less efficiently than it used to, a fact which can often imply that a total breakdown isn’t too faraway.
When it doesn’t seem to be doing its job
If you or any of your family members have recently found yourselves saying, “Gee, this room doesn’t seem to get as warm as it used to,” then there is a solid chance that your heating system is on its way out. The older a system gets, worse of a job it’s bound to do. So pay attention to the temperature and comfort level throughout your house, and call in an expert if you come to realize that your home just isn’t warming up like it used to.
When it starts making noises
Do you ever find yourself hearing strange noises late at night when it’s quiet? It could be a ghost, but more likely, it’s your heating system letting you know that it’s working in overdrive. When rattling and squeaking suddenly become part of your regular nightly household soundtrack, then it’s time to call in an expert to examine your system and advise you as to what the next steps should be.
When it breaks
Although this particular sign is usually reserved for Captain Obvious, plenty of homeowners out there don’t realize that when their heating system break completely, it’s time to have it replaced. If you find yourself suddenly going from some heat to zero heat, then it’s probably time to say goodbye to your heating system and welcome a new, working one into your home.
Of course, when it comes to an older heating system, the key is really to replace it before it breaks completely and you find yourself left with no heat. Therefore, as a homeowner, you’ll need to be vigilant when it comes to maintaining your heating system and calling in an expert when you start noticing signs of deterioration. Remember, heating systems aren’t designed to last forever, and if yours is on its way out, then you might as well come to peace with that fact before you find yourself left out – or inside - in the cold.
