Last week we wrote about the importance of maintaining your furnace each fall. This week, we’re turning to a more extensive version of furnace maintenance: replacing a furnace with a new one. A time will come when continuing with regular tune-ups and scheduling repairs are no longer the best option for a furnace. We’ll look into whether this is the fall when you should arrange to have a new furnace installed.
The Age of the Furnace
This is the main way to tell if you’re due for a new heating system. Check on when your furnace was installed. Was it more than 20 years ago? If so, then it is definitely time for it to retire. The average life expectancy for furnaces is 15–20 years, although an electric furnace may go for a bit longer. Once the furnace moves past that range, it is at a much higher risk of losing efficiency, breaking down, or even developing safety hazards.
Heating and Repair Costs
When the money you spend to run your furnace or to keep it working with repair service start to rise, you should think about a replacement. A sudden price jump often indicates a repair problem, but we’re talking about a steady rise—one that’s noticeable over the last few winters. As for repairs, it’s not a good sign if you’re calling more than one a year to have the furnace fixed, or if any single repair bill is equal or greater than the cost of putting in a new system.
Advice from Professionals
Your fall furnace maintenance is the best time to ask HVAC technicians about your furnace’s condition, and whether it’s time to have a new one installed. A skilled technician can give you a report on the furnace and how much longer you can expect it to work before it becomes an energy waster. It’s always a good idea to follow the advice of a certified professional when it comes to your heating system.
Malek Heating & Cooling has the people who can handle your furnace replacement or other services in Wilmette, IL. Serving the Chicagoland area since 1998!