There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when they realize their heating system just isn’t what it used to be. Years of wear has taken its toll, and your once young and powerful heating system is now struggling to keep your home warm. And you’re wondering, is it time to replace your heating system? We know it is hard to say goodbye, but delaying its replacement will cost you more in the end.

Your heating system can last you a very long time, but it can’t last forever. When your heating system is showing signs that it’s time to replace, it’s important to do so quickly. Lots of people wait far too long to take action when it comes to heating system replacement.

Here are some signs that your heating system’s life is coming to an end, and hopefully help you understand the importance of letting go.

1. Your Heating System is Old

Do you know how old your heater is? Chances are that you probably moved into the home you live in now and inherited the heating system you now have. It’s common for homeowners not to know the exact age of the heating system in their home. Locate the serial number on your heating system—if it’s over the age of 15 and you’re having trouble with the system, it’s probably time to replace.

2. You Have Frequent Repairs

If you’re having frequent repair services on your heater then it’s time to think about replacing. “Frequent” in this context can be defined as more than every two or three years. If you have a repair need every heating season, then you definitely have a problem on your hands. Although you might think it’s cheaper just to repair and mitigate problems as they arise, frequent issues will really add up. This is especially true if you have frequent repairs and a system that’s older in age. Finding the proper replacement parts also becomes increasingly difficult as your heating system ages. You should allocate your funds toward replacement rather than on repairs.

3. You Have Rising Heating Bills

Have you been shocked by the price of your heating bill for the past few years? Don’t ignore this. A high heating bill is a sign of heater inefficiency. Heater inefficiency happens when your heater has deteriorated over time. The high heating bill happens because your system has to work much harder to provide your home with adequate levels of heating because its fighting against the problems within the heater itself or your ductwork to provide your home with heat. When those bills start to add up, it’s time to start weighing them against the price of a new, more efficient heating system.

4. You Have Hot and Cold Spots in Your Home

Do you feel like some parts of your home are incessantly stuffy while others are perpetually cold? This is a sign that your heating system has seen better days. Many people tend to ignore this because they feel like this is merely a minor inconvenience that they can just learn to live with. In actuality, it’s a testament to the deteriorated state of the ductwork in your home and/or the poorly maintained state of your heating unit. If you have this problem, make sure to call a professional.

5. The Common Cold is All Too Common

Have you noticed that you or other family members in your home are sick way too often? Cold and flu season does bring along some unwanted sniffles, but do you feel like these problems have been incessant? Dry air in your home is often exacerbated by your heating system and this causes you to get sick more often due to lowered immunity. In addition to this, an inability to properly distribute heat during the winter can make you sick too.

6. You Hear Strange Noises

If your furnace is making strange noises, that is its way of saying “let me go.” It will likely sound like rumbling, screeching, rattling, popping, or a loud bang (which is as terrifying as it sounds). Do not ignore these noises! These sounds could indicate a number of serious issues with your unit, especially if you are dealing with an older one.