Even though your heating and cooling system will last for 12 to 15 years, there will come a time when it needs to be repaired or replaced. If you want to know when you should start Googling “heating and cooling Harris County TX,” you will need to be on the lookout for some of the following signs.

Higher Energy Bills

While it is quite possible that higher energy bills might come from simply turning your temperature too high or running your AC too long, a higher than usual utility bill when your heating and cooling habits haven’t changed is a good indicator that your HVAC system isn’t working as efficiently as it once did. If some adjustments to your thermostat don’t change anything, it might be time to contact an HVAC technician to take a look at your system.

Strange Noises

A furnace or air conditioner should be almost silent when it is turned on, so hearing things such as rattling, knocking, or anything other than a faint whoosh when your system is turned on is definitely cause for alarm.

An Old HVAC System

As we said before, a good HVAC system will work reliably for 12 to 15 years. Your own system might work well beyond that if you’ve been able to maintain it well enough, but it will start to show its age around that time. You might be able to have it repaired and get some more life out of it, but you are usually better off buying a replacement instead.

Uneven Heating or Cooling

Even though every room in your home won’t heat up or cool down at the same rate, you should still feel a relatively consistent temperature throughout your house. If certain rooms in your home are too warm or too cool when you have your system turned on, you probably have some dirty ducts or vents that need to be cleaned out. You might be able to clean out some of the vents, but the ducts themselves will require the service of an HVAC technician.