Should I Repair Or Replace My Furnace?

Did you know that are recently as the 1980s, you could find furnaces with efficiencies in the 50-60 percent range? That means that nearly half the money your parents spent to heat the house was lost up the chimney (no wonder they couldn’t afford better clothing!).

Driven by competition, demand, and design advances, today’s furnaces can reach efficiencies into the upper 90s – nearly double what they were a generation ago.

Of course the cost of these efficiency improvements is that today’s equipment is more delicate and complex than ever before: heat exchangers with thinner walls crack more easily, while adding motors for circulation and exhaust fans and an electronic ignition to replace a mechanical pilot light assembly means having more – and more expensive – parts that can break.

So overall, better technology means better performance – but it also means more must be done by people with specialized training to make sure that better performance continues.

Repair / Replace Advice

Today’s gas furnaces can last 15-20 years. But that length greatly depends on many things – especially how well you maintain your equipment. Right-sizing your furnace and making sure it is properly installed will affect that lifespan, too – along with your heating bills.

Tips on making your furnace last

To get more from your furnace, follow these two bits of advice:

1. Get annual routine maintenance every year. Routine maintenance will make your equipment run better and last longer – and it will prevent many costly heating system repairs. The best way to get that maintenance? Sign up for a Casey Energy Service Plan.
2. When the time is right, don’t hesitate to upgrade. If your heating equipment is more than 15 years old, it may not be worth repairing. Today’s furnaces are much more efficient than they were 15 years ago – especially if you haven’t stayed on top of maintenance. Follow this rule of thumb: If a repair on your 10+ year old system is more than half the cost to replace it, upgrade your unit – the efficiency improvements will offset the cost quickly and give you better overall comfort and peace of mind.

Not sure whether to repair or replace your gas furnace? We can help you decide what makes sense for your Northern Westchester or Northern Fairfield home! Contact us today to learn more.