How Often You Should Replace Your Furnace?
You probably know when you need to replace most items in our home. For example, your HVAC system air filter requires monthly replacement. Your pillows should be replaced every couple years. Your smoke detectors should be replaced every decade. But what about your heating equipment?
If your heating system has annual maintenance and is kept in good operation, it can last 15-20 years. Once your heating system reaches 15 years of age , it’s likely a good time to start considering replacing your heating system with a new, more energy-efficient furnace. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency furnaces can save up to 20% on energy costs. Even if your heating equipment still seems to be working fine, it’s ideal to start doing your research now instead of waiting until your furnace breaks down in the middle of a long 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 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 heating system is only as good as the air duct system that it’s installed in.
Another reason you need to research beforehand is to see what tax credits and manufacturer rebates are available to you. This year, you can get U.S. government tax credits of up to $500 for certain heating and air conditioning equipment – but it’s only before the end of 2016 and hasn’t been verified past 12/31/16. Follow this link to help locate local rebates available in your region : https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder.
Another thing to take under advisement if your equipment isn’t quite 20 years old and you’re on the fence about replacement is how much you’re spending on repairing your current system. You can typically repair a furnace – change a part here, fix a piece there – but eventually the cost of repairing your furnace will be greater than the cost of replacing it and at that point you really need to think about long-term spending. If you are paying for furnace repairs on an annual basis, it’s probably time to look into replacement.
If you aren’t confident about your furnace’s ability to get you through the freezing temperatures safe and toasty, give Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning a call and we’d be happy to come out and inspect your system and provide any recommendations. Starting December 1st, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is providing discounts on specific heating and cooling systems so give us a call and ask about how much you can save!