Should I Repair or Replace My Furnace?

December 29, 2014

If the temperature outside is chilly, the condition of your home’s furnace is obviously critical to your comfort. If you’re experiencing furnace difficulties, you may be wondering whether it is ultimately more sensible to repair or replace your furnace. There are multiple factors that will determine which option is best for you. Your the Wasatch Front region area HVAC professional can help you judge your needs and your broken HVAC system to determine whether furnace repair or replacement is the appropriate short- and long-term answer for your the Wasatch Front region home.

When Repair Is Best

More often than not, furnace problems can be easily pinpointed and repaired by a ACE-certified, HVAC professional. If your furnace is new—i.e., less than ten years old — odds are highly likely that any issues it exhibits can be solved through repair. Additionally, if your furnace is still heating your the Wasatch Front region area home efficiently (your HVAC professional can help you determine this), then it is still in your best interest to repair it. Usually, as long as you are not seeing a continuous increase in your heating bills with continual usage and your home is not having issues with uneven heating, your furnace is considered in good shape. Conventional wisdom relating to furnace repairs is that assuming the repairs you need are less than one-third of the investment of a new heating system and your furnace is in the first half of its predicted lifetime, repair is likely your best decision. Keep in mind that even if you are experiencing a drop in heating efficiency, there are other avenues you can explore before considering replacing your furnace. Talk to your HVAC professional about upgrading your thermostat or checking the integrity of your the Wasatch Front region home’s ductwork to see if he thinks these enhancement could boost the efficiency of your furnace. Talk to Barlow Service Experts about scheduling regular furnace maintenance, which will add years of quality service from your furnace and help you prevent further repairs or drops in efficiency.

When Replacement Is Best

Eventually, repair will not be able to affordably resolve your issues. The anticipated lifetime of most furnaces is 15-20 years; thereafter, the heating system will begin to fail more and more often. Thus, if your furnace is nearing or passed the 15 year mark, it is time to consider replacement. Irregardless of equipment age, if you need your HVAC service provider for repairs on a regular basis, this could also be a sign that your heating system is failing and needs to be replaced. Although repairs may seem like a simple fix, if they aren’t keeping your furnace functioning for years at a time, these frequent smaller charges ultimately cost you more money. There are a variety of things that may determine whether replacement is ideal for you including the quality of your original furnace installation and the capacity of your furnace. Having your furnace installed properly is critical to the performance of the unit. In addition, your furnace may be struggling if it’s not sized according to specs for your the Wasatch Front region home size or heating needs. If your furnace isn’t sized or installed properly, you will probably need to consider a new unit instead of dealing with a heating system that lacks the capacity to properly heat your home.

If you have questions about whether repair or replacement of your the Wasatch Front region home’s heating system is right for you, contact Barlow Service Experts today.


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