The heating season may not be as big of a deal here as in other parts of the country, but it’s still something you should be prepared for. That means making sure that you have a working heating system, even if you’re only going to use it a handful of times over the next couple of months. If your current furnace is not up to the task of keeping your home warm this season, it’s a good idea to install a new one now.
You don’t want to have your furnace break down on you just when you need it most. You’re going to need to have a professional evaluate the system to determine whether or not it is nearing the end of its effective lifespan. There are a few signs that you can identify as a homeowner, though, that serve as pretty clear indications that you need a new furnace.
Oftentimes, it’s the most minor thing that can bring disaster to a system. A single line of code, a relatively miniscule exhaust port, the one linchpin that everything rests on in order to function properly. Believe it or not, a similar weak point exists in your furnace. The air filter is there to prevent dust and debris of various kinds from blowing into the system, and causing problems with its operation. It does this job well, capturing various contaminants as they flow in from the ducts. The problem, though, is that the air filter has no way of getting rid of the contaminants that it collects. If the system isn’t cleaned or replaced every few months, it will eventually become clogged. That’s when the serious problems start. 
