How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You probably know when you need to replace most things in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors need to be replaced every ten years. But what about your heating equipment?
If your furnace has routine maintenance and is kept in good shape, it can last 15-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s really a good time to start thinking about replacing your heating equipment with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed properly, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your furnace still seems to be operating fine, it’s better to start looking now instead of waiting until your equipment breaks down in the middle of a terrible freeze and you’re so desperate you don’t have time to look into your options. When contemplating new furnace options it’s also crucial to consider your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can seriously affect your home’s overall comfort and effectiveness. A new furnace is only as good as the air duct equipment that it’s installed in.
Another reason you want to research beforehand is to see what manufacturer rebates and tax credits are available to you. This year, you can earn U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for qualifying heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only until the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Visit this link to help find local rebates available in your area : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to consider if your system isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re contemplating replacement is what amount you’re spending on fixing your current furnace. You can typically repair heating equipment – replace a part here, fix a section there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating equipment will exceed the cost of replacing it and then you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your heating system’s ability to get you through the winter safe and warm, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to go out and inspect your equipment and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1st, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is providing discounts on qualifying heating and cooling systems so contact us and ask about how much you can save!
