How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You may know when it’s time to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and air conditioning system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows need to be replaced every two years. Your smoke detectors must be replaced every ten years. But what about your heating system?
If your furnace has routine maintenance and is kept in good shape, it can last 12-20 years. Once your heating equipment reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start contemplating replacing your furnace with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on utility costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be working fine, it’s best to start looking into your options now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a deep freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have the luxury of time and research. When thinking about 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 energy efficiency and comfort. A new heating system is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason you want to research ahead of time is to see what tax credits and manufacturer rebates are available to you. Right now, 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 area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to consider if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re on the fence about replacement is how much you’re spending on repairs. You can typically repair a heating system – replace a part here, fix a section there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating system will outweigh the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are repairing your furnace on an annual basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your furnace’s ability to get you through the freezing temperatures safe and cozy, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your furnace and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1st, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is providing discounts on specific HVAC systems so call us and find out how much you can save!
