Like any major home appliance, as furnaces age, they decline in functionality. Most furnaces usually have a lifespan of around twenty years. Anything greater than that is considered fantastic, but when your furnace begins near twenty years of age, it is usually time to start looking for a replacement.

Otherwise unexplainable and continuously rising energy bills are often the result of a furnace’s declining efficiency. This can be addressed with periodic repairs and maintenance, but is unlikely to ever be completely rectified as your furnace continues to age.

No matter the major or minor appliance in your home, we know that a unit that needs frequent repairs is not a good sign for the remaining lifespan of the unit. As your furnace ages and more repairs are needed, a replacement should begin to be considered by the homeowner.

Most furnaces should make a consistent whirring sound in the background of your home while in operation. Banging or rattling noises coming from your furnace are signs that it needs to be repaired. However, a furnace that is silent while it’s supposed to be running is usually a sign of a furnace on its very last legs.

If your Owatonna, MN home’s furnace has visible cracks or rust on the unit, that is a telltale sign that the time has come to consider a replacement furnace for your home’s heating solution. Those cracks and rust can lead to corrosion and other issues that will severely deter your furnace’s operation.