Furnace Replacement: A Home Owners’s Guide that You can Use

It’s happened again. You’re looking at more costly furnace repairs. Should you keep piecing your aging furnace back together, or should you finally give in and replace it? Considering these factors can help you determine whether you might be better off repairing or replacing your home heating unit.

Repair History

Reviewing your furnace repair receipts and considering the potential cost of future maintenance can be a real eye-opener, particularly since these costs typically increase over time. Trustworthy HVAC repair technicians will tell you – if the cost of furnace repairs is about a third the cost of purchasing a new furnace, you’d be better off investing in a newer model.

Warranty

Has the warranty for your older home heating system nearly run out? If this is the case, and furnace repair needs are increasing in frequency, replacing your aging furnace now, before it leaves you shivering in winter weather extremes, could be a smart move.

Furnace Age

If your furnace is more than 10 years old, it’s probably not worth the continued expense of repairs. Furnaces have a 15-year life expectancy, 20 max. Older furnace technology is also significantly more inefficient. With new Energy Star furnace models boasting a performance of 97% (near-total efficiency), you can quickly recoup furnace upgrade costs in energy savings.

Efficiency

Older furnaces offer about 60-80% efficiency. This translates to 20-40% of your energy dollars going up in smoke. Investing those wasted energy dollars in a new furnace instead offers more for your money – including a more comfortable home with lower energy bills. How can you tell if your furnace is inefficient?

• Your furnace frequently cycles or runs continuously, struggling to maintain temperature on cold days.
• Your heating bills keep increasing year-over-year.

Features to Consider When Buying a New Furnace

When it’s finally time to replace your furnace, look to these new system features to ensure lasting happiness with your investment:

• Load
  Professional assessment by a trained HVAC technician will ensure a system specifically sized to your home’s size, layout, age, and building envelope.
• Capacity
  Sufficient capacity, measured in BTUs, ensures your furnace has the power to heat your home adequately.
• Efficiency rating
  Efficiency or AFUE ratings point to how successfully fuel is converted to heat. Higher ratings = fewer energy dollars wasted.
• Features
  Furnaces outfitted with variable speed blowers, high-performance air filtration, heat exchangers, and added venting offer superior performance, efficiency, and comfort. System designs compatible with zoned heating help you avoid hot/cold spots and unnecessarily heating unoccupied areas.
• Warranty
  Home heating systems providing warranty coverage for parts and labor help you save over the long-term on repairs. Extended service agreements through your local HVAC company can also help you manage costs not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Rebates and Incentives Toward More Efficient Home Comfort Solutions

There are many opportunities for savings when upgrading to newer, more efficient home heating systems. Energy Star models typically offer the best rebates and incentives. Your local utility company, city, and county may also provide additional financial incentives toward more efficient furnace models, which reduce strain on the power grid.

Don’t wait until your furnace is irreparable before taking action. Get a trustworthy quote on a new home furnace from H & H Heating & Air Conditioning today.