Upon recognizing that your furnace is beginning to fail, your first step should always involve calling a professional HVAC technician. In many cases, a heating problem requires minor repairs to restore efficient and effective service.
However, when your system’s defects become more severe, you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth it to fix what you have to replace it altogether. With that in mind, here are some aspects to consider as you make that decision:
The Age of Your Furnace
Typically, furnaces last 15 to 20 years with sufficient care. If your heating system is reaching that benchmark, furnace repairs may not represent the most pragmatic solution. An old furnace will use more energy, break down more frequently, and fail to properly heat your home. If you’re already experiencing these issues, it might be time for a replacement.
However, since it has been up to two decades since your last furnace replacement, in this case, you may not be familiar with your heating options. Modern furnaces are more energy-efficient than older models, and some people find that energy-efficient heat pumps offer even more savings. Steadfast Heating & Air can help you learn about all of your heating alternatives.
The Presence of Fumes or Leaks
Through the years, you’ve probably used common air duct cleaning tips to keep track of the condition of your ducts. And that likely helped you seal air leaks and reduce energy costs. Keeping up with duct and HVAC repairs promotes optimal energy efficiency and utility savings.
Similarly, your heating system can develop natural gas leaks. Even though a gas leak also affects efficiency, it requires immediate furnace repair for safety reasons. If your unit frequently develops fuel leaks, a furnace replacement will permanently resolve the issue.
The Amount You Spend on Repairs
Consider the total amount you spent on furnace repair services over the previous season. When you anticipate spending more than a few hundred dollars on heating repairs this season, it can be more finance-friendly to simply replace the system. A new furnace will function properly for several years and come with a manufacturer’s warranty.
Changes in Your Heating Cycles
Scheduling annual furnace maintenance will reverse wear and tear. While that will keep the system operating like new for longer, it will still lose heating power gradually over time. At some point, the weakened system won’t provide sufficient heat.
Repairing a furnace will address a sudden loss of heat, but a gradual loss of heating suggests the need for a replacement heating system.
Rising Energy Costs During the Winter
If you notice that your energy bills continue to rise each month, scheduling furnace repair services can uncover the problem. Usually, increased energy waste results from an HVAC malfunction; the system will use more energy to meet your heating needs as a malfunction weakens its inherent heating power.
An HVAC technician can diagnose the underlying malfunction, but if they can’t find a specific cause, they might recommend replacing the furnace. That is usually the best solution when several components are too worn to function properly.
Start Your Furnace Replacement With Help From the Pros
Steadfast Heating & Air provides HVAC maintenance, repairs, and replacement services. If your furnace is malfunctioning, we’ll diagnose the problem and offer repair solutions. We can also help you choose an energy-efficient replacement when that time comes. Contact us to schedule service today!