Even though they are made strong and built to last, eventually there comes a time in every furnace’s lifespan in which the question will arise as to whether a homeowner should repair an aging system, or replace it before it becomes a financial abyss.
If this is you and your home heating system isn’t performing like it used to — perhaps your heating costs seem high, or you have some other type of concern — you’re in the right place.
Our friendly expert certified heating and cooling technicians here at Newark-Heath Heating & Cooling present the following.
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 replaced, the following is a list of factors to take into consideration to make the best decision.
Timing is Imperative
Generally speaking, gas furnaces usually have a useful service life of between 15 to 20 years. Because this number is based on averages, which varies from model to model, we also look at how well the furnace was maintained. Professional maintenance greatly influences how long a system will remain useful. In any case, when your furnace is within this age range or if it’s passed it, it’s a good idea to begin to plan ahead and consider replacement, especially if you are having any of the issues mentioned below.
Performance & Efficiency Evaluation
With so many furnaces lasting well beyond the average lifespan of 15 to 20 years, it’s also important to consider how well the system has been performing and its efficiency in addition to associated heating costs over the years. Because we have more modern home heating systems we sell now using technology that has improved by leaps and bounds, it often cuts home heating costs in half for some people.
This is because furnace efficiency significantly diminishes in the latter years. As such, many of our customers are pleasantly surprised by the money they save with their furnace upgrades. If your home heating costs have gone up in recent winters, it’s usually a solid indication that your furnace isn’t performing as well as it should. As time goes on, it’s likely to continue getting worse, costing you more and more along the way.
Repair Costs & Frequency
As we touched on above, home heating systems usually require repair work more frequently around the end of their service life. Because of this, it’s important to look at how often you’ve had to have repairs made and whether the severity of those repairs seems to have increased in recent heating seasons.
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.
Home Comfort Consistency
Your home’s comfort level and consistency is another important consideration to look at when deciding whether to replace or repair HVAC equipment. If your current system has been struggling to keep your entire residence warm in recent years, if it’s colder in certain areas of the home or if your heating equipment has been making loud noises, it could spell trouble in the near future. To prevent that problem from becoming more expensive, it’s a good idea to have one of our friendly certified HVAC technicians come over to inspect your furnace. They can perform diagnostics and give you a more detailed, accurate picture to help you decide whether it’s better to replace your furnace or repair it without any sort of sales pressure.
Call Us Today! We Are Always Happy to Help!
No matter what type of furnace problems you’re dealing with, we at Newark-Heath Heating & Cooling offer fast and affordable solutions year-round to all your HVAC related needs year-round. Regardless of whether you want to repair your heating unit, or if you are thinking about replacement, we have honest, reliable, 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!
