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Should I Repair or Replace
the Furnace?
Sometimes
spending money can end up saving you money. In the case of
furnaces and air conditioners this is often the case- spending
money can really end up saving you money in a short period of time.
But be aware- an inefficient furnace does not always need to
be replaced as there are some repairs and or changes that can be made
first that could potentially help. For example, changing your furnace
filters can help your system run more efficiently as well as making
sure that your humidifier is set to the proper level. Often, simple
repairs such as replacing the pilot light with an electronic ignition
or sealing the joints in your ductwork can end up doing the trick thus
saving you money and extending the life of your HVAC system.
If you really do suspect that you need a new heating or cooling system, the first step is to contact a reliable HVAC contractor to come and check it out for you. Remember, a furnace should last for about 25 years if properly maintained. So unless yours has been improperly installed, damaged or has faulty wiring, you should be able to have many good years of usage. So how will you know when it's really time to replace the furnace?
The three main reasons why you would need to replace a furnace are:
1) Extremely old and inefficient. If you move into a home that was built in the 1960's or even earlier then chances are that it has an old boiler system or even just an older version furnace. It doesn't always mean that you will need a new furnace but chances are that your system will need an overhaul to make it energy efficient for you.
2) High cost of fuel to run your furnace. Find out which is least expensive in your area: gas or electricity and look to using the least inexpensive resource for your system.
3) Heating load. Heating load is the amount of energy required to maintain a steady 65-degree temperature indoors. To find out your heating load, you may want to consider contacting your utility company to perform an energy audit which will help you figure out ways to make your home more energy efficient- and possibly save you from replacing the entire furnace or a/c. If you find that despite your efforts your furnace continues to work inefficiently then you will probably need a new furnace.
Figure This:
If you replace your furnace with a 97% efficient system (look for an energy star furnace or a/c system and compare the AFUE and BTU levels too), then you would cut your heating bills to around 20%. To see if it's worth spending the money, add up your fuel bills for last winter, then multiply that sum by 20%. Divide that figure into the cost of buying and installing the new system, about $3,000 or so, and you'll see how many years it will take to recoup your investment. (Source: ThisOldHouse.com).
If you really do suspect that you need a new heating or cooling system, the first step is to contact a reliable HVAC contractor to come and check it out for you. Remember, a furnace should last for about 25 years if properly maintained. So unless yours has been improperly installed, damaged or has faulty wiring, you should be able to have many good years of usage. So how will you know when it's really time to replace the furnace?
The three main reasons why you would need to replace a furnace are:
1) Extremely old and inefficient. If you move into a home that was built in the 1960's or even earlier then chances are that it has an old boiler system or even just an older version furnace. It doesn't always mean that you will need a new furnace but chances are that your system will need an overhaul to make it energy efficient for you.
2) High cost of fuel to run your furnace. Find out which is least expensive in your area: gas or electricity and look to using the least inexpensive resource for your system.
3) Heating load. Heating load is the amount of energy required to maintain a steady 65-degree temperature indoors. To find out your heating load, you may want to consider contacting your utility company to perform an energy audit which will help you figure out ways to make your home more energy efficient- and possibly save you from replacing the entire furnace or a/c. If you find that despite your efforts your furnace continues to work inefficiently then you will probably need a new furnace.
Figure This:
If you replace your furnace with a 97% efficient system (look for an energy star furnace or a/c system and compare the AFUE and BTU levels too), then you would cut your heating bills to around 20%. To see if it's worth spending the money, add up your fuel bills for last winter, then multiply that sum by 20%. Divide that figure into the cost of buying and installing the new system, about $3,000 or so, and you'll see how many years it will take to recoup your investment. (Source: ThisOldHouse.com).