Making the decision to repair or replace your furnace is a situation that a homeowner will most likely face at some point in their life. Sometimes the decision can be very straightforward. A furnace that costs you hundreds of dollars each year in repairs should be replaced, while other situations aren’t as easy to base a high-ticket purchase decision on!
If you aren’t sure which option is best for you, here are 5 questions to ask yourself to help make the decision easier.
- What’s the age of your furnace? On average a propane furnace will last about 15 years while an oil furnace will last about 25 years – if properly maintained of course. Even with yearly maintenance done, it doesn’t mean that your furnace will maintain peak efficiency throughout its lifetime. A good rule of thumb is that the older the furnace is, the better off you are replacing it vs. doing any major repairs. With a newer unit, if the repair costs 50% or more of what it would cost to replace it, then it usually makes sense to replace it vs. repair it.
- What do your maintenance records look like? A professionally maintained furnace will perform much better than one that’s been neglected, however, no matter how regimented you are in your annual servicing, it will never be as efficient as the day it was installed or as a new system.
- Are you limited in space? When replacing an old furnace, you’ll need to consider the current ductwork and spacing. Are you limited in putting in a bigger unit or getting the unit into the home? Will the current ductwork or plumbing support the new unit or can it be easily changed? These are things you will need to consider before making any significant changes.
- What are your heating needs? Have you made any changes to the home since you purchased or installed your last furnace? Have you added an addition or done a remodel and now your current heating system can’t keep up? If so, an upgrade may be a better choice.
- Is my current system clean and safe? If your current system is showing signs of cracks or rust, it could be a tell-tale sign that carbon monoxide is leaking into your home. If you aren’t familiar with the dangers of CO, you can learn more here.
Now that you’ve had a chance to ask yourself a few questions, you can weigh the costs and benefits of either repairing or replacing your furnace. It may seem that replacing your furnace is the best option in almost every question above, however, there are some instances when repairing your system makes more sense:
- You just installed your system less than 5 years ago
- You plan to move in the next year or so
- A rebate program is coming soon but hasn’t gone into effect yet
- It’s not in the budget right now
Keep in mind that a furnace is a long-term investment, similar to the roof on your home, and with any investment you need to make sure you do your research so you know you are making the best choice for you, your home, and your budget. Need help making the repair/replace decision? Give us a call – it’s what we do!
