Out with the Cold, in with the New

Just like your vehicle, your furnace or boiler needs a tune-up once a year, especially before the cold weather starts. Tune-ups keep heating systems running efficiently, increase the lifespan of your equipment, and save you money.

You’ve stayed on top of this annual maintenance.  But your house just isn’t as comfortable as it used to be.  Some rooms are cold, some are too hot, and your heating system seems to take a long time to “boot up.”

Here’s the bad news:  Your system may be over 15 years old, and if so, it’s time to invest in a new one.

But don’t stop reading, there’s good news too!  When you replace your system with a newer, more efficient model, you’ll be decreasing your carbon footprint and saving money in energy costs.

Not sure how old your system is?  Here’s how to check:

• Look for the door on the outside of your furnace. There could be a tag or label on its interior with the serial number, and possibly the date.
• Fan blades: Turn off the furnace’s power using the power switch or the master fuse, then look at the fan blades.  In older models, the date will often be stamped on the fan.
• The first four digits of the serial number could also represent a date. The first two numbers would be the month, and the last two the year.  For example:  0375 would be March 1975.
• Check for a sticker on your equipment that shows the last service date. The technician will often include an installation date, which should tell you the age.
• Call the manufacturer. Even without the serial number, they can usually help using pictures or other information.

Now What?

Once you’ve established that it is time to replace your equipment, you may want to do some research on your own, or contact your local home comfort service provider.  They can give you the professional guidance you need to find the right size, make and model for your home.