It’s almost October, and before you know it you’ll be clearing away Halloween decorations, then Thanksgiving dinner leftovers… and the cold weather will be here! Right now is the ideal time to make sure that the furnace in your home is prepared to handle the chill. One of the best ways to do that is to schedule annual maintenance from a professional.
However, maintenance may not be sufficient… especially if you have an old furnace that has seen enough years of service that it has started to wear down. Perhaps you should have the furnace replaced this fall with a new system. Let’s take a closer look at this.
When replacement is the best option
First, how old is your furnace? Most gas-powered furnaces (the most common type) have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Electric furnaces can last a few years longer. If your furnace has reached or exceeded its lifespan estimate, it might be a good idea to replace it even if it still seems to be working fine. It’s good to get ahead of expensive repairs and a decline in energy efficiency. For gas furnaces, you also run a reduced risk of the system developing safety issues due to age-related problems like corrosion and cracked heat exchangers.
Second, look over your heating bills for the last few seasons. Do you notice an upward trend? A furnace will start to lose its efficiency during its final few years of service, so if repairs and maintenance don’t reverse the rising costs, then you should replace the system with a higher efficiency new unit.
Third, how often have you needed to repair the furnace during the last few years? When the cost to keep a furnace running with repairs exceeds $500 a year, then it’s wasteful to continue spending money on it—and you’ll be at constant risk of the furnace breaking down when you most need it. Have a replacement put in.
Red Rock Mechanical LLC in Burlington, VT is glad to help you with making the choice about whether you should have new furnace installation.
