This far into winter, you've likely been running your furnace for a couple of months, giving you a chance to check out its overall performance. That's why now is an especially good time to begin watching for signs that your heating system will soon need to be replaced. 

Sunshine Air Conditioning & Heating, one of the best HVAC contractors in Westchester County, NY, recommends keeping an eye out for these common signs of an impending furnace failure, especially if your system was installed more than 10 or 15 years ago:

• Even well-maintained systems become less efficient as they age, so if your heating bills this winter are increasing much faster than normal, you should start considering a new furnace.
• Every furnace will need occasional repairs, but most breakdowns happen in the last two years of their lives. Frequent heating repairs probably indicate a major problem.
• A burner flame should be strong, steady, and blue. Yellow, inconsistent flames mean your unit is probably producing carbon monoxide, and is very likely unsafe to use.
• Strange banging, squealing, and popping noises often occur as a heating unit nears the end of its life.
• Modern heating systems purify and increase moisture to the air, preventing the dry skin and allergies many people experience as a common symptom of winter.

If you’ve noticed many of these signs in your heating system, an experienced furnace repair professional will help you decide if it’s time for a new furnace before winter comes again. Visit Sunshine Air Conditioning and Heating online to see a full list of services, or call (914) 245-2050 for an appointment today.