How Long Will My Heating System Last?

Posted on November 30, 2017

In order to make it through the winter every year, you’ll want to make sure that you have a heating system that you can depend on. The last thing you’ll want is for your heating system to break down on you in the midst of some of the coldest temperatures of the year. Knowing when to replace your heating system will help you to avoid such problems.

How Long do Heating Systems Last?

When it comes to something like a furnace or a boiler, you can expect them to last between ten and 15 years. However, these days, newer heating systems are much more effective and efficient, which means that newer heating systems could end up lasting upwards of 25 years. This does depend on how you take care of your heating system.

Maintaining Your Heating System

If you make sure that your heating system is properly maintained, then it’s more likely to last longer. There are a few ways that you can do this.

Improve your home’s efficiency – If your home is losing heat, it means that your heating system will have to work extra hard to replace that heat. By eliminating air leaks throughout your house and by taking other measures to improve your home’s efficiency, such as adding better insulation or upgrading old windows and doors to more energy efficient models, you can help keep heat from escaping your home, allowing your heating system to work less. The less it has to work, the longer it will last.
Change your filters – Your air filters help to keep your home’s air quality high. Their job is to trap dust and debris, thereby preventing contaminants from circulating throughout your home. However, if the filters get too dirty, they will begin obstructing the air flow throughout your house, which will force your heating system to use more energy to produce more heat, thereby causing unnecessary wear and tear. Check your filters every month and change them every one to three months as needed.
Schedule annual inspections – A thorough inspection before winter can help ensure that your heating system is working effectively and efficiently. Professional inspectors will make repairs, clean components and lubricate parts as needed to help keep your heating system working properly for as long as possible.

Signs You Need to Replace Your Heating System

The following are some of the common signs that your heating system is reaching the end of its life and needs to be replaced:

Your heating bills are too high – If your heating costs have skyrocketed, it means that your heating system can no longer produce heat efficiently.
It’s no longer working effectively – If you’re unable to heat your home effectively or evenly, it could be because your heating system is reaching the end of its lifespan.
It’s making strange sounds – Strange, loud sounds are often indicative of broken or damaged components.

To schedule an inspection or to replace your heating system, be sure to contact us at W.F. Smith in Philadelphia and serving the surrounding cities.

Tips For Reducing Heating Costs

Posted on October 12, 2017

Now that summer is at an end, temperatures are going to begin dropping steadily. Like most homeowners and business owners throughout the Philadelphia area, odds are you’ll be relying more and more on your heating system to keep your property warm and comfortable. Unfortunately, this also means that your heating costs are going to get higher and higher. However, there are several ways that you can keep those heating costs down.

Reducing Your Monthly Heating Costs

The following are a number of tips that you should follow in order to reduce your heating costs while still keeping your home or place of business warm and safe throughout fall and winter:

Use your curtains wisely – Figure out which windows face the sun during the day and leave them open to let in as much sunlight (and heat) as possible. Keep the curtains on the windows facing away from the sun closed to keep the heat trapped inside. Once night comes around, make sure the curtains are all closed to help prevent heat from escaping. This allows you to depend less on your heating system.
Change your air filters – Clean or replace your air filters every month. Dirty air filters will obstruct the flow of hot air throughout your home or business.
Use your ceiling fans – Believe it or not, but ceiling fans can be extremely effective during the winter. Flip the switch on the body of the fan to run it in reverse. The blades will push the hot air that’s rising up back down, thereby keeping your rooms warm and preventing heat from escaping towards the ceilings. Because your home or business will be more evenly heated, your heating system won’t have to work more to replace lost heat.
Insulate the attic – If your attic isn’t properly insulated, it should be. Insulation in the attic will help keep warm air from escaping through your ceilings and up into the attic, where it’s not needed.
Install a programmable thermostat – A programmable thermostat will allow you to program your heating system to heat your home to different temperatures at different times of the day for up to a week in advance. This means that you can program it to lower to a more cost efficient setting right after you leave home for work and have it go back up to a more comfortable setting right before you return.
Get a tune-up – Have your heating system inspected by a professional. They will repair or replace worn out parts, clean dirty components and lubricate moving pieces to ensure that your system will not only function more effectively but more efficiently as well.

These are a few tips that can help you to reduce the cost of heating your home or place of business during the colder times of the year. If you need a residential or commercial heating system inspection in the Philadelphia area, be sure to contact us at W.F. Smith today.

How Often Should I Change My Furnace Filters?

Posted on October 10, 2017

Your furnace filter is meant to help prevent dust, debris, and other contaminants from being spread throughout your home. It traps these things, thereby preserving your air quality as heat circulates throughout the house. However, it’s important that you change your furnace filters before they get too dirty. Once dust, debris, and other contaminants begin building up, they can not only restrict airflow but can compromise the quality of your air as well.

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How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter

Posted on September 8, 2017

Keeping safe and warm this upcoming winter should be a priority for everyone in Philadelphia. To ensure that you do so, you’ll want to start preparing your Pennsylvania home’s furnace before temperatures begin to drop. The last thing you’ll want, after all, is for your furnace to have trouble heating your home effectively once you’re depending on it.

The experts at W.F. Smith can help guide you through your furnace preparations this fall. Schedule furnace maintenance or an inspection by calling (215) 624-1313 or contacting us online today!

How to Prepare Your Furnace for Pennsylvania Winters

The following are a few tips for preparing your furnace properly so that you can depend on it to heat your home as effectively and efficiently as possible throughout the winter season:

Replace your furnace filter – There’s a good chance that you didn’t replace the filter after you stopped using your furnace sometime last spring. Check the filter and either replace it or clean it (if needed). A dirty filter will obstruct the flow of hot air throughout your house, which means that not only will it be difficult to keep your home as warm as you like it, but your furnace will have to use more energy to try to heat your home up.
Clear the space around the furnace – Once you begin using your furnace, you won’t want anything flammable to be located near the unit or else you’ll have a fire hazard on your hands. Remove anything that’s stored too close to your furnace and sweep the area around it clean as well.
Clean the vents throughout your home – Remove the metal lid from your vents so that you can reach in with the extension of your vacuum cleaner to suck up any dust and debris that’s present. This will help ensure that the heat your furnace is producing is flowing unobstructed out your vents and throughout your house.
Clean the air ducts – Like cleaning your vents, cleaning your air ducts will help improve airflow – as well as the quality of your indoor air. However, this task is generally best left to the professionals since getting into your ducts can be very tricky without the right tools.
Schedule a professional inspection – A professional inspection can reveal any issues that your furnace might have that you didn’t know about. By taking care of these issues, you’ll reduce the risk of having your furnace break down on you in the middle of winter when you are depending on it the most. A professional inspector will also lubricate moving parts as well as clean dirty parts, thereby ensuring that your furnace will work as efficiently and effectively as possible. You should schedule an inspection on a yearly basis in either September or October if possible.

These are some of the tips that you should follow to make sure that your furnace is prepared for the upcoming winter season. These tips can help prevent the need for furnace repairs and replacement during the winter and can help you keep your heating costs down as well.

To schedule a professional furnace inspection, repair, or replacement, be sure to contact us at W.F. Smith today.

10 Signs You Need a New Furnace

Posted on February 16, 2017

If you have an older furnace you may be wondering if you should give in now or wait it out and see what happens. Sometimes your furnace is trying to tell you something and watching and listening for certain signs can give you a good indication that it is time to replace your old furnace. Once replaced, you and your family will be able to enjoy comfort levels like never before. Check out the infographic below for some essential benefits of getting a new furnace:

Is Your Furnace Telling You Something?

These 10 signs are a good indication that your furnace is trying to tell you that it is close to the end of its life.

Rising Energy Bills – Rising energy costs can be a definite sign that something is wrong with your furnace. If you have noticed your energy costs rise swiftly your furnace is having to work harder and replacing it may save you a lot of money in the future.
Uncomfortable Home – If your furnace is having trouble keeping up with your home’s heating needs, your furnace may be reaching the end of its life. Replacing your old unit can help keep your home comfortable all winter long.
Excess Repairs – If you are spending a lot of time scheduling repair appointments, your furnace is likely ready to give up the ghost. In the long run you will save money by not having to call for repairs all the time.
Strange Sounds – While some noises can be fixed, squealing and clanging can sometimes occur as your furnace ages. Sometimes a furnace will continue to get louder and louder as it ages.
Yellow Flames – If you have a gas furnace checking the flame can give you a good idea as to what is happening. If you have a yellow flame instead of a blue flame your furnace may be producing excess carbon monoxide.
Weak Air Flow – If you notice that the hot air coming out of your vents is not very strong your furnace may have major issues with its motor. Sometimes the motor can be repaired but depending on age it may be better to replace the unit.
Excess Dust – If you have noticed more dust in your home your furnace is no longer doing a good job at removing airborne particles.
Rust, Cracks, or Corrosion – If you take a look at your furnace and you notice rust, cracks, or corrosion then for safety reasons you need to have your furnace thoroughly checked. Once these things start occurring your furnace is showing its age and replacement is imminent.
Cycling or Not Cycling – If your furnace is cycling on and off a lot or it just staying on constantly, this is a good sign that your furnace is no longer working correctly
Completely Inoperable – If your furnace is more than 10 years old and it just stops working have someone look at it, it may be an easy fix or it may be trying to tell you something.

Choose W.F. Smith for Furnace Replacement in Philadelphia

A furnace is one of larger investments you’ll make for your home. When doing so, you should trust the professional in charge of the installation. Our team members are not only good at their job, but they excel at it. Check out the video below to see why W.F. Smith should be your go-to when it comes to your HVAC needs:

If you have a furnace that has reached the end of its life, contact the team at WF Smith today for furnace replacement services.