How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You probably know when it’s time to replace most products in our home. For example, your heating and cooling system air filter needs to be replaced monthly. Your pillows need to be replaced every two years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every 8-10 years. But what about your heating system?
If your heating equipment has yearly maintenance and is kept in good working order, it can last 15-20 years. Once your furnace reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start contemplating replacing your furnace with upgraded, more energy-efficient heating equipment. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on heating costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be working fine, it’s better to start looking now instead of waiting until your system 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 thinking about new furnace options it’s also critical to take into account your home’s air duct system. Leaking and undersized ducts can significantly affect your home’s overall energy efficiency and comfort. New heating equipment is only as good as the duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you need to research beforehand is to see what tax and manufacturer rebates are available to you. This year, you can get U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for specific heating and cooling equipment – but it’s only through the end of 2016 and hasn’t been confirmed past 12/31/16. Follow this link to help locate local rebates available in your community : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
One thing to take under advisement if your equipment isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re debating replacement is what amount you’re spending on fixing your current furnace. You can typically repair a furnace – change a part here, fix a component there – but at some point the cost of repairing your heating system will be greater than the cost of replacing it and that’s when you really need to consider long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs on a yearly basis, it’s probably time to think about replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your heating system’s ability to get you through the winter safe and toasty, 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 find out how much you can save!
