Should I Repair or Replace My Furnace?

December 29, 2014

If the temperature outside is chilly, the health and function of your home’s furnace is obviously vital to your comfort. If you’re experiencing furnace problems, you may be wondering whether it makes sense to repair or replace your furnace. There are many factors that will determine which option is best for you. Your Voorhees area HVAC technician can help you evaluate your needs and your struggling HVAC system to determine whether furnace repair or replacement is the appropriate short- and long-term answer for your Voorhees home.

When Repair Is Best

In most cases, furnace problems can be easily sourced and repaired by a ACE-certified, HVAC professional. If your furnace is new—i.e., less than 10 years of system life — it stands a very good chance that any issues it has can be solved through repair. Additionally, if your furnace is still heating your Voorhees area home efficiently (your HVAC professional can help you determine this), then it is still likely and more affordable to repair it. Usually, as long as you are not seeing a continuous increase in your heating bills with regular usage and your home is not having issues with uneven heating, your furnace is deemed operationally sound. Our recommendation about furnace repairs is that as long as the repairs you require are less than one-third of the cost of a new heating system and your furnace is in the first half of its predicted lifetime, repair is likely your best decision. Remember that even if you are experiencing a drop in heating efficiency, there are other paths you can explore before considering replacing your furnace. Talk to your HVAC technician about upgrading your thermostat or checking the integrity of your Voorhees home’s ductwork to see if he thinks these solutions could improve the efficiency of your furnace. Talk to Atmostemp Service Experts about scheduling regular furnace maintenance, which will keep your furnace functioning its best and help you avoid further repairs or drops in efficiency.

When Replacement Is Best

In some cases, repair will not be able to affordably resolve your issues. The anticipated lifetime of most furnaces is 15-20 years; after which, the heating system will deteriorate and fail more and more often. Thus, if your furnace is already at least 15 years old, it is time to discuss replacement. Beyond the factor of the age of your equipment, if you require your HVAC service provider for repairs on a regular basis, this could also be a sign that your furnace is beyond help and requires a replacement. Although repairs may seem like a basic fix, if they aren’t keeping your furnace functioning for years at a time, these frequent smaller charges can add up quickly and cost you more in the long run. There are several things that may determine whether replacement is best for you including the quality of your original furnace installation and the capacity of your furnace. A furnace is only as good as its installation, making proper installation essential. Also, your furnace may be struggling if it’s not sized correctly for your Voorhees home size or heating needs. If your furnace isn’t sized or installed properly, you might want to buy the correct unit versus trying to get the wrong unit to perform beyond it’s capacity.

If you have questions about whether repair or replacement of your Voorhees home’s heating system is right for you, contact Atmostemp Service Experts today.


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