Unfortunately, there comes a time in every home heating system’s life in which a homeowner is faced with the question: Should I repair my furnace, or would it be better to just replace it?
If you are facing this difficult question (maybe your home heating costs are getting high, you have some other type of problem and your heating system isn’t performing like it used to), you are in the right place.
Our friendly expert certified heating and cooling technicians here at Monroe Heating & Air present the following information to help you decide:
Should I keep repairing my furnace or replace it?
Although there is no magical formula that indicates precisely when a home heating system should be repaired vs. when it should be replaced, there are several factors that help you to determine the best course of action.
First off, it’s a good idea to consider how well your furnace has been performing in recent years. Then, you should look at the following factors:.
Consider Your Furnace’s Age
Usually, gas furnaces have a service lifespan that runs between 15 to 20 years. Keep in mind these numbers are based on averages. How well your home heating system has been maintained over the years and whether it has been regularly serviced by a professional has a profound impact on the actual number of years. With that said, if your furnace is between 15 and 20 years old or older, it’s a good idea to at least plan ahead and consider replacement, especially if the system hasn’t had regular maintenance performed.
Consider its Performance and Efficiency
Because it’s not unusual for furnaces to continue to work beyond the average lifespan mentioned above, you should also consider how well it has been performing and look at your heating costs over the years. Newer, more modern home heating equipment uses technology that has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. These high-efficiency furnaces often reduce home heating costs in half.
As such, a lot of homeowners who are proactive and replace their outdated heating equipment end up saving money in the long run. Because older furnaces’ efficiency depreciate so much over time, many have AFUE ratings on them that aren’t accurate anymore. If your home heating expenses have increased in recent years, it’s usually a sign the system isn’t performing as well and it’s likely to get worse. When you combine rising heating costs to repair costs over time, it’s easy to understand why being proactive with all HVAC equipment always pays off.
Consider Repair Costs
As we’ve discussed, furnaces usually need more frequent repairs towards the end of their lifespan. As such, it’s essential to look at how frequently you’ve had to make repairs and whether it seems to be getting worse as time goes on.
If your repair costs are inexpensive and they seem to be long-term solutions, furnace replacement isn’t necessarily necessary. On the other hand, if your repair costs have been expensive, or if they are more temporary solutions to the problems, it’s a good idea to begin planning for a new furnace.
Moreover, some experts give the following formula to help with this decision:
Take the cost of the repair and multiply it by the age of the furnace. If the number you get from that is more than the cost of a new furnace, experts suggest going for the new furnace.
The Comfort Factor
Last but not least, comfort is an important factor to take into consideration when deciding to replace or repair a furnace, or any HVAC equipment for that matter. If your furnace has been struggling to keep your home warm during recent winters, if you have certain areas in your home that are cold, or if your home heating system is making loud noises — you probably have problems lurking on the horizon. If any of these problems are going on, keep in mind it’s always a really good idea to have one of our professional HVAC technicians come over to inspect your furnace, perform diagnostics and provide you with a more detailed, accurate picture of what’s going on. The men and women we recruit as technicians are the best, too.
They are happy to help and give you an honest evaluation keeping your best interest, as our customer, at heart. They can give you advice on whether it’s better to repair or replace your furnace without any hidden motive or sales pressure. Your satisfaction is always guaranteed!
Unfortunately, if they find you have a crack in your heat exchanger, replacement is usually the best option because this is the most expensive part to replace. Moreover, cracked heat exchangers are dangerous as they can release carbon monoxide into your home and safety should always come first.
Whatever the Problem, We are Happy to Help!
Our team at Monroe Heating & Air has solutions to any and all HVAC-related problems year-round. Whether you are wanting to repair your furnace or replace it, we have honest, trustworthy HVAC technicians who are state certified and fully insured and more than happy to come to your home and help while keeping your best interest at heart.
To schedule service, request an estimate, or have your furnace inspected by a professional, call today at (513) 540-4890. You can also schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
