Although our heating equipment is made to be durable and designed to last a long time, eventually every furnace comes to the end of its rope.
After years of faithful service, there comes a time when we must decide whether to repair an aging system, or replace it before it becomes too much of a drain on our finances.
If your home’s furnace hasn’t been running as well as 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 Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air 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.
Furnace’s Age and Maintenance History
On average, gas furnaces usually have a service life of 15 to 20 years. Because the actual number varies from model to model, we also consider how well the furnace has been maintained and whether that was done on a consistent basis. Seasonal maintenance performed by an HVAC technician greatly improves how long a system lasts. 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.
System Performance & Efficiency
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 throughout the seasons of use. Because our modern home heating systems are far more efficient, with cutting-edge technology that’s improved by leaps and bounds, it usually cuts home heating bills in half.
This is also because of the fact that furnaces significantly lose efficiency in their latter years. As a result, many of our customers are surprised by how much money they end up saving with their new furnaces. If your home heating costs have been going up over the years, it’s probably because your system isn’t performing as well as it should. This is likely to continue getting worse as time goes on, costing you more and more money to provide the same amount of heat or less.
Cost & Frequency of Repairs
Next, we look at how often you’ve had to pay for repairs and whether the severity of those repairs seems to have increased in recent heating seasons.
If repair work has been infrequent, minor and inexpensive, you’re in good shape, especially if they solve the problems long-term. If this is the case replacement might not be as pressing an issue. However, if the repairs have been regularly needed and/or expensive (especially if they were merely temporary solutions), it’s a good idea to start to at least plan on getting a new one.
When facing expensive furnace repairs, ask yourself whether your hard-earned money would be better spent on new heating equipment. You want to avoid putting an expensive bandaid on a model that’s old and outdated. Additionally, some experts use the following 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 is higher than the cost of a new furnace, experts recommend getting the new furnace.
Home Comfort is Crucial
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.
Find out more about our money-saving furnace models today!
No matter what type of furnace problems you’re dealing with, we at Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air 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 937-502-3842, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
