How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You likely know when you need to replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter should be replaced each month. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your furnace?
If your heating equipment has routine maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 10-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start considering replacing your heating system with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed appropriately, these high-efficiency heating units can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be operating fine, it’s best to start looking now instead of waiting until your equipment breaks down in the middle of a terrible freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When considering new furnace options it’s also crucial to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can significantly affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. New heating equipment is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason to research in advance is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. Currently, you can get U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for certain HVAC equipment – but it’s only until the end of 2016 and hasn’t been approved past 12/31/16. Use this link to help find local rebates available in your region : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to take under advisement if your furnace isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re on the fence about replacement is what amount you’re spending on repairs. You can typically repair a furnace – change a part here, fix a piece there – but in the end the cost of repairing your heating equipment will exceed the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace each season, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t positive about your heating equipment’s ability to get you through the winter safe and warm, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to visit your home and inspect your system and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1st, Service Experts is providing discounts on certain HVAC systems so contact us and find out how much you can save!
