Tune Up Your Furnace Before Cold Weather Hits

Bringing cool air in during hot days and pushing cold air out during winter falls largely to your furnace. Unless it’s fairly new, you may need to take a serious look at it.

Any furnace that’s more than 20 years old should be checked by a professional - and there’s a good chance it should be replaced. That’s because age and 20-year-old engineering have combined to make it waste more than a third of the fuel it burns. Modern furnaces are significantly more efficient in burning fuel. That translates to smaller utility bills.

Give your old furnace a tuneup - most people will have this done by a professional. Here are some things that should be done.

Your old gas forced-air-furnace pilot light may need replacing after all these years. Consider replacing it with an electronic ignition system. It makes it a lot easier to start and a lot safer.

If you have one of those old “dial” thermostats, exchange it for a digital auto-setback model. It will save you big bucks and furnace wear and tear because it will turn off your furnace when you’re gone and regulate its operation at night.

Make sure your furnace heat exchanger doesn’t leak combustive gas.

If you haven’t checked your air-duct system for leaks for years, now is the time.

If you’ve had a furnace pro working to revive your furnace, and he crosses himself as he looks at it and shakes his head, get the message that you need a new furnace.

While you’re shopping, one term you’ll come across is “AFUE.” That stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It’s a rating based on a 100 percent system. The higher the AFUE number, the more efficient the furnace. Of course, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a 100 percent furnace. There are too many variables, such as leaky duct systems or duct systems that are inefficient in design.

What will a new furnace cost?

You can expect a new furnace with an 80 percent rating to cost about $1,500, more or less. Furnaces with even higher AFUE numbers could cost twice as much.

Prices can vary substantially, so shop thoroughly. And make sure you’re comparing the same types of furnace.

Which company do you choose?

If the brand name of your old furnace and the company that did the installing are still around, try that company first. If not, talk with neighbors or try your local utility company.

Just make sure you get it done before bad weather hits.