Dealing with furnace problems that result in a homeowner losing heat, there comes a time in every heating system’s life in which the question comes up: Should I repair my aging furnace, or would it be more beneficial to just replace it?
If you are asking yourself this question (perhaps your heating system isn’t performing like it used to, your heating costs seem high, or you have some other type of concern), you are in the right place.
Our friendly expert certified heating and cooling technicians here at Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning present the following.
Should I keep repairing my furnace or replace it?
Unfortunately, there is no magical formula that indicates precisely when a home heating system should be repaired vs. replaced.
If you are asking yourself this question, however, it’s a good idea to consider the facts and how your furnace has been performing in recent years. The following is a list of other factors to take into consideration:.
Timing is Everything
Typically, gas furnaces have a useful service life of somewhere between 15 and 20 years. This lifespan estimate is a number based on averages. The actual number of years is greatly influenced by how well it’s been maintained and whether it has been serviced by a professional over the years. As such, if your furnace is within this age range or beyond, it’s a good idea to begin to plan ahead and think about replacement.
Efficiency is Essential
Because it’s not uncommon for furnaces to last beyond the average lifespan of 15 to 20 years, it’s also essential to consider how well it has been performing in addition to your heating costs. Today’s more modern home heating systems have technology that’s improved by leaps and bounds, especially in recent years, cutting home heating costs in half for some people.
Oftentimes, homeowners who replace their outdated furnace unit save money in the long run. Because furnace efficiency diminishes so much over the years, a lot of homeowners are using models that have AFUE ratings on them that are no longer accurate. Because of this, many of our customers are pleasantly surprised by the amount of money they save with their new furnaces. If your home heating bills have gone up in recent years, it’s usually a clear indication the system isn’t performing as well. As time goes on, it’s probably going to get worse and become more expensive. When you add these costs to the costs of repair parts and labor for the problems that arise as it gets older, you can see why being proactive with replacement pays off.
Look At Your Repair Budget
Typically, furnaces need more repairs more frequently towards the end of their service life. Because of this, it’s important to look at how often you’ve had to have repairs performed and whether it seems to have gotten worse in the last few years.
If the repairs you’ve had to make are relatively minor, inexpensive and they solve the problems long-term, replacement isn’t necessarily the way to go. However, if the repairs have been frequent and/or expensive, or if they were merely temporary solutions, it’s a good idea to start to at least plan on getting a new one.
When faced with expensive furnace repairs, ask yourself whether your hard-earned money would be better spent on new heating equipment, instead of putting an expensive bandaid on a model that’s old and outdated. Some experts suggest using a formula to help make 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 higher than the cost of a new furnace, experts recommend getting the new furnace.
The Comfort Factor
Comfort is another important factor to consider when deciding to replace or repair HVAC equipment. If your furnace has been struggling to keep your home warm in recent winters, if it’s cold in some parts of the home or it’s making loud noises, additional problems are likely to be lurking on the horizon. As such, it’s always a really good idea to have one of our professional HVAC techs inspect your furnace to provide you with a more detailed, accurate picture.
They can give you an honest evaluation and suggest whether it’s better to repair or replace without any sort of sales pressure.
Ultimately, if you have a crack in your heat exchanger, replacement is usually the best way to go because this is the most expensive part to replace and this type of problem can release carbon monoxide into a dwelling. Anytime you make a decision regarding your home’s HVAC equipment, safety should always come first.
We Are Always Happy to Help!
Regardless of your furnace issues, we at Lancaster Furnace & Air Conditioning have solutions to all your HVAC related needs year-round. Whether you decide to repair your furnace, or if you are thinking about replacement, we have honest, trustworthy HVAC technicians who are fully-insured, state certified and more than happy to come to your home and help.
We service, repair and install on all types of home heating systems.
To schedule service, request an estimate, or have your furnace inspected by a professional, call us today at (740) 625-2320 or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
