They’re like an unsung hero of the home.
Year after year, our furnaces faithfully pump out heat throughout Ohio’s coldest months of the year, seamlessly keeping us safe, warm and comfortable.
And while they are built to last, on a long enough timeline, sooner or later there comes a point in which a homeowner has to decide whether to replace their home heating system, or continue making repairs.
If you find yourself contemplating this sometimes complex question (maybe your heating bills are sky high or your furnace hasn’t been performing like it used to), you are in the right place.
Our expert HVAC technicians here at Fairfield-Hamilton Heating & Cooling present the following to help you make the right decision.
Should I replace my furnace or keep making repairs?
First off, we should say there is no magical formula or crystal ball to tell homeowners exactly when they should have their furnace replaced when its performance is uncertain. However, when making an important and expensive decision like this, it’s a good idea to consider the following:
The Furnace’s Maintenance Record & Age
Most experts agree the average lifespan of a furnace is usually between 15 and 20 years. Because the actual numbers vary from unit to unit, it’s important to look at whether or not the system in question has been maintained properly over the years by a professional. Having a professional perform maintenance regularly and consistently greatly increases the actual number of years the furnace will operate in a productive, efficient and useful way. Knowing this, as a furnace gets up there in age it’s wise to plan ahead to prepare for replacement, especially if it hasn’t been maintained adequately. Other factors affecting its lifespan include how well it was installed and how well repairs have been handled.
Performance & Heating Costs
Next, you want to consider the furnace’s overall performance ability and record in addition to evaluating your heating costs over time. Often people with older furnaces are surprised by the advancements made in furnace technology since they last bought a furnace. Because these newer furnaces that we sell and install now are far more efficient (in addition to being built to last a long time), it’s not uncommon for a new one to cut home heating bills in half. As such, customers who are proactive with furnace replacement usually end up saving money overall, in addition to avoiding the headaches that come with keeping an outdated unit in use.
Increases in heating costs are usually a sure sign the unit isn’t performing the way it should. If you take the repair costs, add it to the increases in heating costs and compound that number over time and a new picture will emerge, a picture that demonstrates why it always pays off in the end to be proactive with HVAC equipment, rather than being reactive.
Frequency of Repairs & Costs of Parts and Labor
The next thing to consider in all this is the frequency of repairs needed and their associated costs. Additionally, you should ask yourself whether the frequency has increased in recent years.
If the need for repairs hasn’t been a thing, or if they haven’t been expensive and they seem to be long lasting solutions, you probably don’t need to replace your furnace just yet.
Conversely, if repairs have been a frequent thing and the repairs have been expensive, replacement is more likely the way to go — and more so if the repairs being made seem more like temporary fixes.
Quick formulas
Furthermore, to make this decision even easier, there are a couple formulas many HVAC experts often suggest homeowners consider:
In the first formula, you take the number of years you’ve had the furnace and you multiply that number by the dollar amount of the cost of the repair needed. Then, you take the number you got from that multiplication and compare it to the cost of a new furnace. If the first number is more than the cost of the new furnace, they recommend you replace the furnace.
Alternatively, you could also compare the cost of the repair alone to the cost of a new furnace. If the repair cost is one-third the cost of the new furnace, many experts suggest getting the new furnace. To determine if it’s more than a third, you divide the cost of the new furnace by three.
Home Comfort Considerations
It usually goes without saying that comfort is another vital factor to account for whenever a homeowner is deciding whether to repair an aging furnace or have it replaced. This applies to all HVAC systems. Anytime a furnace has difficulty maintaining desired temperature levels set on the thermostat, or when there are certain areas, rooms or floors of the home that are colder than the rest, it’s usually a sign of trouble on the horizon. If this is a problem in your home, give us a call right away! We’d be happy to quickly send over one of our highly-skilled HVAC technicians for a closer look. Using the latest technology, they can quickly perform advanced diagnostics on the unit and give you a comprehensive and accurate assessment of precisely what’s going wrong. The men and women we recruit as technicians are among the best in the industry. They are customer-focused and committed to giving each and every customer completely honest evaluations according to their best interests, which is always our highest priority. Moreover, they can talk candidly with you about your furnace, answer questions and advise you whether it’s better to repair it or install a new one.
Regardless of what you decide, we have your back 100 percent and guarantee your satisfaction as our customer.
We always have your back and best interest at heart!
At Fairfield-Hamilton Heating & Cooling, it’s our mission to offer our fellow community members the most affordable HVAC solutions all year long — always using the highest quality products and most superior level of service you can find in this industry. Regardless of whether you are leaning towards replacing your furnace, or whether you are only wanting to have it repaired, we are always more than happy to come to your home and assist while keeping your best interest and needs as our highest priority.
To schedule an appointment, request an estimate, learn more or speak with an expert, give us a call today at 513-540-1716. For your added convenience, you can also click here to schedule an appointment now online!
