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Should I Repair OR Replace My Furnace?
When it’s cold outside, a broken furnace at the very least is a nuisance. However, for others it’s a serious matter. Pipes can freeze and people get sick. It’s important that a broken furnace gets fixed, and fast! What many struggle with is knowing whether or not to keep sinking money into repairs or to go ahead and replace the unit.
Recently, a technician was called out for some furnace repair work and the conversation ended up going something like this.
“How bad is it”?
“Your thermostat isn’t working and your fan motor needs to be replaced.”
Immediately, the customer wanted some answers. Was he looking at a furnace repair or a furnace replacement? How much was a new furnace installation going to cost?
Furnace Repair or Furnace Replacement?
Calmly, the technician explained to the homeowner that in his case, furnace repair was best. To replace the defective part was going to be much less than the installation of a new furnace. Even better, the unit was still under warranty and since he had scheduled a tune-up every Fall, his repair was covered. He then gave his customer some guidelines for deciding between furnace repair and furnace replacement in the future.
When Furnace Repair is Best
- Your furnace is less than 10 years old.
- The furnace still heats your home efficiently.
- Your heating bills have not shown an increase over time.
- There are no issues with uneven heating.
- The repair cost is less than 1/3 of the cost of a new heating system.
When Furnace Replacement is Best
- If your furnace approximately 15 years or older. (The typical lifespan of a furnace is 15-20 years).
- When you furnace requires frequent repairs.
- If the quality of installation is poor.
- There are issues with uneven heating.
- The furnace was not sized properly.
It May Not be Your Furnace!
When your furnace quits, it’s only natural to assume that the problem lies with the unit itself. However, you may find that the problem is your thermostat or the quality of your duct work. If you have a digital thermostat, check the batteries even if the display still works. Low voltage can cause the unit to quit functioning as it should.
Your HVAC expert can help you troubleshoot your heating problems and offer advice on how you can upgrade your thermostat or improve the quality of your duct work.
