Should I Repair Or Replace My Furnace?

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The Importance Of HVAC System Efficiency

Having the right heating and cooling system in a home or business can have a huge impact on the energy costs associated with HVAC systems. Units that are too large or too small are unable to properly heat or cool a building at maximum efficiency. Hello, my name is Roland, and if you're interested in learning everything you can about HVAC systems, you'll find the information you need in this blog. I belong to an environmental organization that helps homeowners and business owners learn how to reduce their energy costs. Our organization helps people save money on their energy bills, and while doing so, this also helps the planet. I've written this blog to help others learn about HVAC systems and how qualified HVAC contractors can help them save money and help the environment.

Should I Repair Or Replace My Furnace?

29 October 2020
 Categories: , Blog

This year has been difficult for many Americans, but the cherry on the top for some will be turning on their furnace as the temperature start to drop, only to find out that it's either not working at all or not operating very efficiently. If that happens, you may be tempted to call up an HVAC company and simply have a brand-new furnace installation performed, but depending on a number of factors, you may be able to have it repaired instead. Below are some questions that you can use to help make this decision.

How Old Is Your Furnace?

While some of the appliances in your home only last decade or so, furnaces can last nearly 20 years, or even more, with proper maintenance and repairs. Still, once your furnace crosses the decade mark, you'll notice that repairs will become more frequent and more severe, usually resulting in major furnace repairs just to keep it operational. If that's the case, you should probably consider having a brand-new furnace installation performed instead of having constant furnace repairs, since the costs will continue to pile up over time.

Are Your Utility Bills Going Up?

Even if nothing is technically wrong with your furnace on the surface, rising utility bills are an indication that your system is having to work harder and harder to heat up your home. Check out your usage rates over the last few years; if you see them increasing, you can expect that number to continue to go up no matter what you do.

Sometimes, performing simple furnace repairs, such as cleaning condenser coils and having your ductwork cleaned, will be enough to let your system simply maintain the current usage, but it will eventually go up again. It's better to take advantage of newer and higher efficiency units to reduce your overall bill, no matter how much the actual furnace installation may cost initially.

How Expensive are Your Repairs?

Ideally, you should only contact an HVAC company to schedule a  furnace repair call every few years, at most. If you've called them every year to work on something, it's worth it to pull out your bills and add up how much those repairs have cost you. If that number is more than 50% of the cost of a new one, it makes more financial sense to simply have a brand-new furnace installed instead. In addition to less repairs, you also have easier maintenance and warranty that will give you peace of mind for years to come.