Spring may be around the corner, but it's still winter, and you need heat to make your home comfortable. Now is the time to make necessary upgrades to your heating service to prevent an untimely breakdown. Efficiently heating your home can make you and your family more comfortable, productive, and healthy, and add to your overall home value. Read on to see why you need to make such an upgrade.

1. High Bills

According to the Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy, about 3 million heating and cooling systems are replaced annually in the United States. One of the benefits of making such timely replacements is the savings you'll enjoy. After all, your electrical bill can account for up to 50% of your home bills. In addition, your heating and cooling costs often make up at least half of your energy expenditure. If you notice your electricity bill is rising every month, your existing system may be on its last leg. Luckily, you have more options than ever when choosing a new heating system.

2. Poor Circulation

A good heating system should circulate throughout your home. What is the point of an HVAC system if you have to stand underneath it to feel the heat? If you notice such air circulation problems, that's a sign you need a more efficient system that can hit throughout the house. Having inconsistent temperatures throughout your house can be frustrating. Your local heating service can help you select and install the right type of heating system for your home.

3. Slow Temperature Changes

It's one thing to wait a couple of minutes before you can feel the heat going throughout your home. What if a couple of minutes turns into an hour or two? If it takes forever to feel the heat once the system in your home is turned on, this is a major sign you need a heating upgrade. Having a drastic delay can make your home unbearable in the dead of winter. If your heating is intertwined with your cooling network, it may create the same problem in summer when you need cool air. The right temperature can ensure that neither you nor anyone else in your home suffers from unbearable cold air in your own home.

4. Unusual Smells

After you clean your home, you should revel in the smells of a freshly cleaned house. However, if those first smells immediately dissolve away when you turn on your heating system, only to be replaced by a sulfuric rotten egg or moldy smell, you have a problem on your hands. This is a notorious sign that your heating system may have a clogged or malfunctioning filter. If it relies on a duct network, then there may be mold, dirt, and other contaminants built up inside.

5. Poor Air Quality

Do you enjoy going outside for fresh air? It's natural to enjoy the fresh smells of nature, but you should also enjoy equally good air quality from the comfort of your home. If turning on your heating system immediately results in coughing, wheezing, sneezing, or having watery eyes, you're experiencing poor air quality. When the ducts in your heating system contain mold, it can make your air unsafe to breathe and create respiratory problems. If you notice any of these symptoms, you may need to contact a heating service to get a new indoor air quality filter installed.

6. Excessive Noise

Is your HVAC system responsible for noise pollution in your home? You should be able to watch TV, make a phone call, or sleep peacefully when you turn the heating on. However, if you hear a lot of rattling, shaking, thumping, or squeaking, it's time to call your heating service for a replacement. Otherwise, you may have to choose between a peaceful sleep and being properly heated on a winter night.

As you can see, you have several ways to tell that it's time to call your local heating service for a replacement. When you heat your home, you should be able to do so efficiently without air pollution, noise, or poor smells. Your choice of a heating system upgrade can save on bills and reduce stress and energy costs in the long run. Your home is your sanctuary, so you must keep it as comfortable as possible. What better way to do so than with efficient heating and cooling? Contact Rutty & Morris Air Conditioning today for a quality HVAC company you can count on.