A furnace is an essential appliance in winter. But it will require repairs along the way and eventually, you will have replace it. However, if your furnace breaks down and you call in an HVAC repair service, how to decide between furnace repair and furnace replacement? Here is a guide for your help.
Should You Repair Or Replace Your Furnace?
You should decide between repair or replacement of your furnace by asking these questions:
How Long Does A Furnace Last?
Generally, a furnace lasts for 15-20 years. However, proper installation and maintenance can stretch it to the 25-30-year mark, but it’s less common.
After the 15th year of your furnace, pay more attention to its performance and any signs that may hint at problems. Look for any weird smells, noises, temperature fluctuations, and rising heating bills.
What Affects The Life Expectancy Of A Furnace?
Various factors can impact the lifespan of your furnace.
The first factor is the brand and the model of the furnace. We know that furnaces from high-end models of top brands tend to last more than their cheaper counterparts.
Moreover, installation is also a critical factor that will dictate how long your furnace will last. Even if you buy a high-quality furnace with modern features, it won’t last as long if it’s installed improperly. This is why it’s critical to pick an experienced HVAC installer.
The installer will make sure that they are installing the correct size of the furnace for the house because improper sizing can cause various problems which decrease the lifespan of a furnace and increase the electricity bills.
Furthermore, an expert installer will also choose the right location for furnace installation. They know that furnaces in small spaces wear sooner than expected. The best place for furnaces is a garage. However, in homes that don’t have a garage, the technician may install the furnace in a crawlspace or an attic. With that, the expert will give you instructions to make the best use of your furnace while it’s installed in that space.
The last factor is maintenance. Even when a furnace is of top quality and it’s been installed perfectly, if it’s not maintained, it will fall short of its life expectancy. So, never ignore routine maintenance.
How Old Is Your Furnace?
Many people may be able to answer this question in an instant, but some may not be sure about the exact year they installed their furnace. To be sure, check the records. If you don’t find anything, you can determine the age of the furnace from its serial number.
Get the serial number and model name from the furnace by removing its cover. Serial numbers of furnaces include their age, but anyone who doesn’t know how can’t make anything of it. So, enter the serial number on Google with the manufacturer’s name. You’ll find resources to find the age of your furnace.
After determining its age, get to the important stuff. If your furnace is newer (less than 15 years old), consider repairs. However, if it’s older (more than 15 years), go for a replacement. But keep in mind that other factors also impact it like the quality of the furnace, installation, and maintenance as mentioned earlier.
How Often Your Furnace Requires Repairs?
Servicing a furnace once a year is a common practice. So, if your furnace works well with annual maintenance and may be one repair call, then you should simply repair your furnace if it breaks down.
On the other hand, a furnace breaking down often and needing repairs is never a good sign even when it hasn’t reached the age of 15 years of installation. So, have the system inspected because the expert may also suggest you replace your furnace rather than keep repairing it frequently.
What Is The Cost Of Repairs?
If your furnace is newer (within the 10-year range) and you’re facing frequent breakdowns of the furnace and still want to keep it, then you should take a look at the cost of the repairs as well. If the money spent on the repairs in one year is half the price of a new furnace, then you should bite the bullet and install a new furnace.
Moreover, if your furnace has already exceeded its lifespan (15-20 years) and its repair costs one-third of the cost of a new furnace, you should go ahead and buy a new furnace instead of wasting money on the existing worn unit.
Is Your Energy Bill Increasing?
Higher energy bills without increasing your consumption means one or more of your gas appliances are no longer as efficient as they were before. One of them may be your gas furnace.
After adjusting the year-on-year changes in the gas costs, compare your heating costs with those of the last year. If you see a difference, your gas furnace may be losing efficiency. You can do a similar comparison for your electric or oil furnace.
In some cases, a minor issue may be causing this problem like dirty air filters or blocked vents. Even if it’s a major issue like a blower motor failure or cracked heat exchanger, it’s repairable but you have to keep in mind the age of the furnace and the repairs it requires in a year before considering a repair. If the furnace is old and/or requires frequent repairs, you must replace the furnace.
Moreover, as you will be buying a modern furnace, they have better energy efficiency than older furnaces. So, even if you splurge for the new furnace, you will save much money on energy bills.
Is Your Furnace Less Effective?
A furnace not heating enough to keep you comfortable is a big problem. Your house may too be warm or some rooms may be less warm than others or the air may be more humid. However, whether this problem is age-related or repairable depends on some factors we have covered already.
Have the furnace inspected by an expert so you find the reason for this furnace performance issue? If there is a minor repair required, you should go ahead with it. But if the repair is major, then before the repair you should ask the above-mentioned questions about the age, repair cost, and repair frequency of the furnace.
Is Your House Dusty All The Time?
There are two main causes of dust indoors. One is leaks in the ductwork and the other is an old furnace. Other factors include a lack of ductwork cleaning and also not cleaning the air filter. So, have an expert inspect the furnace so you know what is the cause of dusty air in your house.
If it’s dirty ductwork, you may have to get it cleaned. However, if it’s leaking, a repair will be in order. However, if everything is fine, then the issue may be the furnace. If the furnace is older (more than 15 years), have it replaced.
Conclusion
Should you repair or replace your furnace? The answer is to check the age of the furnace, the kind of repair required, and the frequency of repairs. You should also consult a furnace repair service Arlington. An expert will inspect your furnace and suggest whether you should go ahead with a repair or consider replacement.
