How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You likely know when you should replace most items in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors must be replaced every decade. But what about your heating system?
If your furnace has seasonal maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 12-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s probably a good time to start contemplating replacing your heating system with an upgraded, more energy efficient heating system. Installed properly, these high-efficiency heating systems can save up to 20% on utility costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be running fine, it’s better to start looking now instead of waiting until your system breaks down in the middle of a long freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When thinking about new furnace options it’s also important to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can seriously affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. A new furnace is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research in advance is to see what tax and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Currently, you can get U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific heating and cooling equipment – but it’s only until the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help find local rebates available in your region : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to consider if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is how much you’re spending on repairs. You can normally repair a furnace – replace a part here, fix a section there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating equipment will exceed the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are having to repair your furnace on an annual basis, it’s probably time to consider replacement.
If you aren’t positive about your heating equipment’s ability to get you through the winter safe and toasty, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your furnace and provide any suggestions. Starting December 1st, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is providing discounts on qualifying HVAC systems so give us a call and ask about how much you can save!
